Mourinho : Ronaldo will stay at Madrid
José Mourinho believes that Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Real Madrid and will not sign for Manchester United. "It's just a feeling," said the Portuguese manager."What I know is that Real Madrid is such a rich club they don't need to sell him, and it is such a rich club I think they can swallow any offer a club can have on Ronaldo," said Mourinho. "I know Ronaldo loves Manchester United and I know he loves the Premier League but I think he is going to stay. It's just a feeling, no contact [with the player]," he went on to say.Manchester United is hoping to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contract is up in 2015. However, 'Los Blancos' are confident that he will renew his contract.
Ancelotti is happy with the progress shown by the team
Following his debut match, Carlo Ancelotti was happy with what he had seen. "I think the first game went well and I'm happy with what the players did. Obviously we have to improve things, but we've only had a week and what I'm focusing on at the moment is finding the right balance in the team. We have to be strong in attack, but also know how to defend and be organised".The coach commended Cristiano Ronaldo, although he preferred to share the praise around the team as a whole. "He has demonstrated that he is the team’s most important player and everyone knows him. The most important thing is that we have talented players and that they are able to play well together. It's important to keep working hard. In my opinion, we have a team with talent, character and personality".On Higuaín, who could have scored his last ever goal while wearing the Madrid shirt, he said that "He's a fantastic player, but I don't know anything more about his future".
Highlights of his interview :
You’ve seen your side on the attack, are you happy?It was good, we tried to play good football. We had some good moves, others less so, but it’s the first match and I’m happy. We need to improve, but that’s normal, because we’ve only been back a week.How important is Cristiano to your plans?He’s the most important player in the group. He’s the star player, everyone knows that.Özil and Isco together... is that a plan or an experiment?It’s an experiment, but I think they are two good players who can play together. It’s important to get a balance between attack and defence and to work together both with or without the ball. Getting the balance is the hardest thing, but we need it.What about Higuaín?He’s an important player for us. He’s a Real Madrid player. It was important for him to scoreCristiano hasn’t renewed his contract and United want him. Are you worried?There’s nothing to talk about there. Cristiano’s future is here. He’s the best player in the team.Do you need to sign anyone?We’ve got quality players, with character. I’m delighted to be coaching them. We don’t need anyone else.Have you talked to Higuaín?I spoke to him this week, and I told him he was a Real Madrid player. Until we hear something else he’s a Madrid player and I want him to stay here.Was it important to win easily?The most important thing is that we worked well. It’s normal for players like Cristiano and Özil to play well, but the youngsters really shone. Carvajal was good up front, Illara was spot-on for his first game, Casemiro... they all did well. For the first week it was good. Cristiano scoring isn’t news, he always does.
Soldado on the point of signing for Tottenham for 30 million
Roberto Soldado will almost certainly be a Tottenham Hotspur player as of Tuesday after a day of intense meetings that left Valencia and the English club on the point of a finalised deal. Tottenham Hotspur technical director Franco Baldini arrived in Valencia in the morning and met the player's agent, Alberto Toldrá, before sitting down with Valencia president Amadeo Salvo.Tottenham are yet to offer the full 30 million buy-out clause, but are very close (sources say 26 million plus variables) that nobody is any doubt that they will get there eventually. Valencia will approve the sale at a board meeting on Tuesday, which was organised before the transfer situation arose but will deal with the matter. The player is likely to earn around 3.5 million euros a year."The two clubs have spoken and Valencia made it clear that they wanted 30 milllion euros", said Salvo. "Tottenham's mission is to get the player as cheaply as possible, while ours is to receive 30 million. There's not much room for manouevre. For a deal to take place two things have to happen: the player has to want to go and they need to pay what Valencia demand. The board will study the situation", he said.David Moyes, the Manchester United manager announces new United offer for Cesc Fabregas
David Moyes, the Manchester United manager, announced that the Red Devils have made Barcelona a second offer for Cesc Fàbregas today, Monday. The bid may be worth as much as €40 million and Cesc would become one of the best-paid players in the Premiership, with a salary of €10 million.The United manager made the statements during a press conference in Tokyo (Japan), where the English club is on a tour of the Far East and Australia.Puyol : "Tito asked us to give our all for the club"
Carles Puyol talked about Tito Vilanova leaving the club at a press conference and about the arrival of the new manager. "It's really difficult news because it's not that they are getting rid of a coach or that a teammate is moving on, it's an illness. We're thinking about what he said to us, he asked us to give it our all, to fight, the best way to help him is to give everything for this club. That's what we do and will do even more if we can, for him," the 'Azulgrana' team captain said."I think all the names being talked about are capable of coaching this team. We have to let Zubi and the club management do their job and I'm sure they'll bring the best coach in. We have a way of playing, a philosophy. The coach that comes in will work within that. I'm certain that Zubi and the management are looking for a manager who can adapt to those characteristics," he commented on the future manager.When asked about the two candidates which have been most strongly tipped for the position, Argentine Gerardo 'Tata' Martino and former 'Azulgrana' captain Luis Enrique, who currently manages Celta, Puyol did not want to go into detail. "I know that ('Tata') is a really good coach, that he likes Barça's style of play. And it's common knowledge that I get on very well with Luis".Lastly, on the subject of Thiago heading to Bayern Munich, he said that "we must respect his decision," being more emphatic with regard to the rumours of a possible departure for Cesc Fàbregas, one of the player's closest friends at Barça: "I don't think he'll leave."Thiago posted a farewell letter on
"I didn't want to end my time at Barça without saying goodbye to you all, as you have always been there for me", the Spanish-Brazilian midfielder wrote on his personal Twitter account, attaching a longer letter along with it, penned in both Catalan and Spanish."To all the supporters: leaving the home which has taken care of you for 14 years…A difficult, long-considered, decision. Phases in life come to an end, changes of direction come along. I still have the same enthusiasm for playing football and competing now as I did when I arrived at Barcelona as a child. And that ambition, enthusiasm and the circumstances in this sport have led me to Munich", the player said."At Barcelona" - he continues – "I grew as a player and as a person. It sounds like a cliché and is what people say in these circumstances, but it really is the case. I would like to thank everyone at the club, at all levels. Barça and the people there have given me everything, they have helped me grow, mature and learn from both good and bad situations".The player ended with a message for Tito Vilanova. "And to you Tito, a fighter…like we said to Abi (Éric Abidal): 'Stones in the road? Keep them all, one day you will build a castle.' No-one has any doubt you'll come out ahead".Thiago signed off with: "A grateful hug and long live Barça!"