Real Madrid have protected themselves in the event of Cristiano Ronaldo suffering a serious injury by insuring the Portuguese superstars’ legs for the grandiose sum of €100m.
Sunday newspaper The World reports that the former Manchester United man, who became a record signing following his €94m switch to the Bernabeu, has been given unique treatment in keeping with his importance to the side, and that Los Blancos acted quickly to ensure that they would be compensated in the event of Ronaldo being unable to play.
The 24-year old recently picked up a knock and the injury to his knee was quickly assessed by club doctors, who gave the player the all-clear.
Ronaldo’s purchase came as part of an unprecedented summer of spending by the Spanish club, which has also included the acquisitions of Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol. Read more…
Tough tackling Inter centre-back Ivan Cordoba has not held back in his response to news Zlatan Ibrahimovic kissed Barcelona’s badge at his official unveiling.
Inter exchanged Ibrahimovic for Samuel Eto’o plus £40m and former Arsenal playmaker Aliaksandr Hleb who arrives at San Siro on a one-year loan deal.
Ibrahimovic was presented to the Spanish Press yesterday afternoon and on being given a Barcelona shirt he picked it up and kissed the badge.
The gesture sparked outrage amongst Inter’s fans who had grown used to hearing him say he supported the Nerazzurri as a boy back home in Sweden.
“He was not here for 10 years and so I think it’s normal [to kiss the shirt],” Cordoba told Sky Sport Italia as Inter returned from the World Football Challenge in America. Read more…
Barcelona new boy Zlatan Ibrahimovic swept into the Camp Nou this evening and immediately proclaimed that playing for the Catalan giants can make him an even better player.
The protracted Samuel Eto’o plus cash deal has finally been completed, and the player was presented to the media this evening, with the Swede proudly displaying the number 9 jersey he will wear next season.
Ibrahimovic beamed as he exclaimed his joy at finally sealing his switch to the European Champions, adding that he can only improve by being surrounded by the talent on show. Read more…
Jose Mourinho has admitted he was left angered by the decision to sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona, although the Inter Milan coach reveals he is delighted to welcome Samuel Eto’o to the San Siro. He believes Inter Milan have done good business in selling Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona.
Inter are on the verge of completing a deal which will see them receive 45 million euros ($64m) plus Eto’o for Ibrahimovic after both players agreed terms with their prospective clubs.
Mourinho knows it will be a blow to lose last year’s leading goalscorer in Serie A but, speaking about the deal for the first time, admitted it is a fantastic bit of business.
“I was a bit angry because no coach is happy to lose Ibrahimovic,” the Portuguese told Sky Italia. Read more…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has left Inter’s training camp in America to complete a dream move to European champions Barcelona.
The news comes as Jose Maria Mesalles, the agent of Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, announced his client had agreed to move the other way.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ibrahimovic took the opportunity to thank his team-mates for three memorable years in Nerazzurro.
“Goodbye and thank you. Really, thank you, everyone, and good luck to you all,” Ibrahimovic said yesterday.
The 27-year-old Swede embraced Jose Mourinho and then caught the 16:35 to Frankfurt before hopping on another plane to Malmo where he calls home.
La Gazzetta understands a flight has already been booked for Barcelona in the next few days. Read more…
According to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent, not only is his client better than Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, but he is greater than all of them put together.
Mino Raiola has been busy trying to secure a swap deal in recent days, one that will see his clinet move to Barcelona with Samuel Eto’o heading to Inter. Read more…
The three most sought after players in the world are in varying states of transition, and a lot can happen between now, the end of the current season and the summer when any number of world-class players will be trading one top team’s kit for another. But a report in The Guardian on Tuesday that Manchester United has offered €70 million … £62.5 million … $93.7 million (a staggering amount of money in any currency) for Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery should Cristiano Ronaldo leave Old Trafford for Real Madrid has added a new urgency to the pontification. Read more…
Real Madrid will prepare to unleash their third Galactico of the season when they present Karim Benzema on Thursday, July 9 at 21:00 CET.
According to AS, the €35 million hot-shot could take the No. 19 jersey, which is currently worn by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Los Blancos are currently deep in negotiations to sell the Dutchman to Stuttgart, who have reportedly made a tempting €18m bid plus incentives, and if Madrid successfully off-load the striker by tomorrow evening, the number will be made available for ‘Benzinho’.
The 21-year-old wore the No. 10 at Lyon - and the No. 9 with France - but it is occupied at present by Wesley Sneijder, another player who could leave the Santiago Bernabeu during the summer trade period, although he is unlikely to vacate the number before tomorrow. Read more…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a final farewell from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. With a world record £80million fee banked by United and Ronaldo ready for a public unveiling at Real Madrid next week, Ferguson could only wish the Portuguese talent well as he launches the next phase of his career. United recently opted to cash in on the 24-year-old, who cost just £12million six seasons ago before going on to be voted FIFA’s World Player of the Year for 2008.
“Cristiano has been a marvellous player for Manchester United,” said Ferguson. “His six years at Old Trafford have seen him develop into the best footballer in the world.
“His contribution has been a major factor in the club’s success in that time and his talent, his ability to entertain and his infectious personality have enthralled fans the world over,” he said. Read more…
