Sir Alex Ferguson

July 14th, 2008

Fergie to go for Berbatov

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Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly canceled a trip to Lisbon to attend to more pressing business in England, and the “business” seems to be that of signing Tottenham and Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Spurs had rejected Manchester United’s advances for Berba last season, when United had tabled an offer thought to be in the region of 20 million pounds. It is alleged that a similar offer did not interest the Londoners this year either. However, United might be able to swing a deal at around 25 million pounds, or maybe 30 million, which includes deferred payments based on the player and the club’s performances.

Two years ago, Fergie flew to Portugal to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Old Trafford, in the aftermath of the Wayne Rooney red card in the quarterfinal of the 2006 World Cup. This time, though, the gaffer seems to have decided that he will not be lured into what is now becoming an annual ritual to convince Ronaldo to rebuff Real’s advances.

It is known that the Glazers have offered the Scot upto 50 million pounds for transfers this summer. Any offer for Berbatov would mean that, even if Ronaldo stays at United, the club will have enough cash to pursue at least one other big name player.

Tottenham are expected to go after Arsenal (and United) target Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers with the money raised from Berbatov’s transfer to United.

Tags: 2006 FIFA World Cup, Blackburn Rovers, Bulgaria, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov, forward, Glazers, hitman, Londoners, Old Trafford, Real Madrid, Roque Santa Cruz, Scot, Sir Alex Ferguson, striker, Tottenham Hotspur, Wayne Rooney

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July 14th, 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo out till October

Cristiano Ronaldo might not feature in a competitive game until October, the Portuguese national team’s physiotherapist Antonio Gaspar has revealed. Gaspar has also said that he is in touch with the Manchester United back room staff as well as the surgeon who operated on Ronaldo.

This news is bound to dampen spirits at Real Madrid, as it decreases the possibility of a transfer. At the very least, it is bound to decrease Real’s offer for the Portuguese star man. Incidentally, Fabio Cannavaro, Real Madrid and Italy defender, has said that Ronaldo must respect his contract with United, another indictment of Sepp Blatter’s stupid remarks about slavery in modern football.

The news from Portugal does also mean that Manchester United have to do without their top goalscorer for the past couple of seasons for at least six weeks into the new season. Sir Alex Ferguson had earlier suggested that United are in the market for just one player. If he does not buy a cover for Ronaldo, then expect to see a plethora of players — Darren Fletcher, Nani, Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez — being tried on the wings.

Tags: Antonio Gaspar, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, defender, Fabio Cannavaro, Italy, Manchester United, Nani, Owen Hargreaves, Portugal, Portuguese, Real Madrid, Sepp Blatter, Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, winger

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July 8th, 2008

Profile: Carlos Queiroz

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeManchester United’s assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, is strongly tipped to leave Old Trafford to become the new coach of the Portugal national team. Here is a brief profile of the man.

Mozambique-born Carlos Queiroz is more than just an assistant manager. In the past few years, he has become an influential force in the Manchester United coaching hierarchy, and is often referred to as a co-manager of the club. Queiroz, who has been in management for almost 25 years now, is strongly tipped to take over the reins at Old Trafford when Sir Alex Ferguson eventually steps down.

Queiroz first came to prominence for his work with the Portuguese national under-20 youth team, with whom he won the 1989 and 1991 FIFA Football World Youth Championships. The teams comprised of stars like Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Joao Pinto, Jorge Costa and Fernando Couto, players that Queiroz is credited with unearthing and mentoring in their youth.

Managerial stints at Sporting Lisbon, Nagoya Grampus Eight (the Japanese club which Arsene Wenger also managed for a year) and the NY/NJ Metro Stars followed, as did national positions with the United Arab Emirates and South African teams (2000-2002). Queiroz joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching staff in June 2002, and helped United recapture the Premier League title in 2002-03.

However, he left for Real Madrid at the end of the season (along with David Beckham) replacing Vicente Del Bosque, but Real’s inconsistent form saw them finish 4th in the league in the 2003-04 season, leading the club to sack him. Queiroz returned to Manchester United a couple of months later.

In the years since, his role has been profound, and he was credited with United’s resurgence, and their new attacking formation. Queiroz also became a kind of father figure to Cristiano Ronaldo, and was instrumental in bringing in Anderson from FC Porto and Nani from Sporting Lisbon.

Queiroz has been linked with a host of clubs in the past. He was widely expected to replace Ronald Koeman as manager of Benfica in the summer of 2006, but he stayed on at United. Recently, Sir Alex himself suggested that Queiroz would be the best person to take over when he retires. However, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s decision to quit Portugal for the Chelsea job might just have tipped the scales for Queiroz, who is linked with a four-year $1.5 million a year deal.

Tags: 1989, 1991, Anderson, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, assistant manager, Benfica, Carlos Quieroz, Chelsea, David Beckham, F.C. Porto, Fernando Couto, FIFA, Joao Pinto, Jorge Costa, Luis Figo, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Manchester United, Metro Stars, Mozambique, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Nani, Old Trafford, Portugal, Portuguese, Real Madrid, Ronald Koeman, Rui Costa, Sir Alex Ferguson, South Africa, Sporting Lisbon, United Arab Emirates, Vicente Del Bosque, World Youth Championship

Vijay | Posted In Profiles | Tagged Comments 1 Comment »

June 26th, 2008

Barcelona offer 25 million for Arshavin

$\"Cesc Fabregas\"$ Francesc Fabregas had expressed his anger yesterday at his former club Barcelona yesterday claiming that the Catalans were interested in as many as seven (?) Arsenal players, including Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor. It is interesting to note that in the Ronaldo transfer saga, Sir Alex Ferguson had praised Barca for conducting themselves properly while Read Madrid were claimed to be unethical.

The Gunners star man would be even more enraged when he learns that Barcelona are tabling an offer worth 25 million euros for Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin, who Arsene Wenger was interested in. The player had previously indicated his willingness to move to Catalunya.

Real are reportedly going to offer Manchester United 68 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo. The usual “he has already got a house here” rumors are all over the papers today.

Back to Arsenal. The Gunners want to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. Man United have been tracking the player for a while and were widely tipped to get him, but a few weeks ago, Veloso raved about a move to Italian giants, AC Milan.

With Emmanuel Adebayor’s transfer to AC Milan now looking more a case of when than if, Arsenal are lining up Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart) and (surprise! surprise!) Peter Crouch as possible replacements. Yeah, you don’t believe that the Gunners would sign Crouch, do you? Incidentally, Rovers boss Paul Ince has warned his former boss Sir Alex to keep away from Santa Cruz.

Arsenal are also tracking Bayern Munich and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger. The winger has asked for a transfer out of Bayern, but we will have to wait until after the Euro 2008 final to hear more on that story.

And finally, Roy Keane’s Sunderland are yet to make any moves in the transfer market. And the sun rises in the east. Oh, just a couple of routine facts there, sorry!

Tags: AC Milan, Alexander Hleb, Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barcelona, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich, Blackburn, Blackburn Rovers, Catalans, Catalunya, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Emmanuel Adebayor, Euro 2008, Fabregas, Germany, Gunners, Italian, Liverpool, Man United, Manchester United, Mario Gomez, midfielder, Miguel Veloso, Peter Crouch, Real, Real Madrid, Roque Santa Cruz, Rovers, Roy Keane, Russian, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sporting Lisbon, Stuttgart, Sunderland, Transfers

Vijay | Posted In News, Transfers | Tagged 2 Comments »

June 20th, 2008

Ince to Blackburn?

Reports suggest that Paul Ince might be confirmed as the manager of Blackburn Rovers in the coming days. The former Manchester United star, now manager of Milton Keynes Dons, was one of the favorites to fill the void created by Mark Hughes departure to Manchester City.

Alan Shearer was considered the popular choice, before he put to rest to all speculation. Former England manager Steve McClown McClaren was one of the names doing the rounds, but no one other McClaren seemed interested in him taking over at Blackburn. Michael Laudrup, the former Denmark international, also emerged a front-runner over the past couple of days.

Ince, who started his playing career at West Ham, followed it with a string of successful seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, before being sold to Inter Milan. Ince managed Macclesfield Town before moving to MK Dons, where he helped the team win promotion to League One.

Guna thinks:

I heard Henk Ten Cate (another victim of Chelsea splash) could be in contention for the slot. He has agreed a contract with Greek side Panathinaikos, but still he could be in contention…if Erikson had not got Mexico offer, I am sure he would have lined up in the queue with Mclaren.. good sign for England ? two former coaches finding it difficult to get a job :) Capello ..Beware !!