Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has revealed that he turned down offers Barcelona, Milan and Real Madrid in order to stay at Old Trafford.
Vidic has become one of the most important players at the club, as evidenced by the fact that he won both the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year Awards last season. Interest in him was inevitable, but Vidic has always remained committed to United.
Speaking to The Sun, he said, “I am happy with the team and Manchester and the club’s ambitions for next season.
““I got offers from Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid and I played a very honest game — I disclosed all these offers to my boss Sir Alex [Ferguson]. He reacted quickly.
“I was told he was raising my pay to bring it to the level where my reputation is in the Premier League and Europe.”
Indeed, after receiving a mega offer from Barcelona, Ferguson decided to raise Vidic’s wages from £20,000 a week to £70,000. Read more…
The Argentine, who will leave Old Trafford this summer, was left on the bench against Barcelona as Ferguson chose to start with Cristiano Ronaldo, Park Ji-sung and Wayne Rooney in attack.
However, the striker claims that Fergie’s decision to leave him out of the Rome final backfired and caused the Red Devils to lose the chance to defend their trophy.
“You cannot argue with Alex Ferguson,” said Tevez. “He is like the president of England. It is impossible, you always lose.
“But he made a mistake to leave me on the bench. That was the only final the team had lost since I had been at Manchester United.”
Tevez is expected to sign for Manchester City for £25m this week, but he insists he had little choice but to leave the champions. Read more…
Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin has said he would be ‘really happy’ to play for Barcelona.
The Russia international signed for the Gunners in the January transfer window from Zenit St Petersburg for a fee in the region of £15m and made a terrific start to his career at Emirates Stadium, scoring six goals in 12 Premier League starts.
However, the 28-year-old has been quoted as declaring his interest in one day moving to European champions Barca - despite choosing Arsenal over the Nou Camp just a few months ago.
He reportedly said in The Sun: “If I have the chance to play for Barcelona, I’d be really happy.”
Arshavin recently stated that he was settled at Arsenal and that he would one day like to return to Zenit to finish his career.
However, there have been rumblings of discontent from the Russian, particualrly over his wages and tax issues. Read more…
Xabi Alonso has refused to rule out a move to Real Madrid this summer and has explained that he has not closed the door
on any possibilities amidst reports that he could leave Liverpool.
The Basque Country midfielder has been linked with a switch to the Bernabeu this summer, but the rumours have subsided after manager Rafa Benitez stated he wanted the player to stay.
But Alonso was asked about his thoughts on moving back to la Primera with Madrid by Don Balon and he revealed that any number of things could still happen.
“In respect to all this I have not closed any door and we will just have to wait and see what happens,” he told the weekly football magazine.
“It is always positive when various teams are said to want you because that is better than nobody being interested, but I cannot say much more.
“I know that I have to keep playing well and will be able to decide what happens next whenever it arises.
“I do not think a move to Real Madrid is impossible, but I would also have no regrets at all staying at Liverpool.” Read more…
Two goals by Sandro Wagner and a stellar performance from Mesut Özil inspired Germany to a 4-0 win over England in the Euro Under-21 championship final on Monday.
England began strongly but the Germans grabbed the opening goal in the 23rd minute when Ozil provided Gonzalo Castro with a delicate pass and he chipped the ball above replacement keeper Scott Loach.
The highly promising Ozil made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half with an stunning free kick from over 30 yards. Read more…
At half-time of their first-ever FIFA final, USA were in the unlikely position of leading five-time FIFA World Cup™ winners Brazil by two clear goals at Ellis Park. There was a kind of hubris in their rampaging first-half performance, with Clint Dempsey flicking an elegant opener and the outstanding Landon Donovan doubling the lead after a devastating counter-attack shortly after.
In the end, though, normal service was resumed and the mighty A Seleção roared to life, scoring three times to seal their third FIFA Confederations Cup title with a thrilling 3-2 triumph. Although sadness was the general feeling in the Americans’ camp at the final whistle, Donovan, speaking exclusively to FIFA.com, painted a picture of a team that will be better off for the hard lessons learned on Sunday night in Johannesburg.
FIFA.com : It was a tough loss tonight. Can you talk a little bit about how you’re feeling right now?
Landon Donovan : We’re disappointed. At the end of the day there’s a reason why Brazil are consistently considered one of the best teams in the world. But in the situation we were in, up 2-0 at the half, we felt that we should have been able to kill off the game. Read more…
Brazil showed their undeniable class in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 in Johannesburg, fighting back from two goals down at the interval to sink the courageous Americans 3-2. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan grabbed goals in the first period, but the South American champions roared back with a Luis Fabiano brace and a Lucio header to pick up their third FIFA Confederations Cup crown.
The United States not only heeded their coach’s pre-game battle cry by not conceding an early goal, but they ran out and notched a surprise opener for themselves after only ten minutes. A lovely cross from right-back Jonathan Spector was met on the volley by Clint Dempsey and guided gently inside the back post by the Fulham striker. Read more…
Spain claimed third place at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over host nation South Africa at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Bafana Bafana had come within minutes of winning the game thanks to Katlego Mphela’s 73rd-minute opener, only for fellow substitute Daniel Guiza to find the net in both the 88th and 89th minute to leave the home fans shell-shocked. But up stepped Mphela again to thump home a free-kick from fully 35 yards in the third minute of added time and take the match into extra-time, when another set-piece from Xabi Alonso eluded everyone including home keeper Itumeleng Khune and finished in the back of the net.
South Africa fought hard to the end of a pulsating encounter, and exit the tournament knowing that a firm foundation has been laid for next year’s FIFA World Cup™ finals. Read more…
Brazil coach Dunga insists their victory over the USA earlier in the competition is now history as the two sides prepare for a rematch at the FIFA Confederations Cup final in Johannesburg. The South Americans were in complete command during their Group B encounter nine days ago, easing to a 3-0 victory on goals from Felipe Melo, Robinho and Maicon. With the two-week tournament set for its climax at the Ellis Park Stadium, it is the North Americans that now seem to have all the momentum heading into the final.
After sneaking into the knockout stage with a 3-0 win over Egypt in the last group game, they then turned in a gladiatorial effort to dump the world’s number one side Spain out of the competition with a 2-0 triumph to seal their date with Brazil, who looked out of sorts as they eventually overcame hosts South Africa 1-0 in their semi-final. And the turn of fortune by Bob Bradley’s men has been closely watched by his opposite number as they now ready themselves for a second meeting.
“The game against the US in the group stages was different,” said Dunga. “Now they are more consistent and tomorrow will be different. Read more…
