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30 June 2003 PSG Double Ronadinho's Price PSG have doubled the price of Ronaldinho following a cash injection from owners Canal+. "We still want him to stay but if United arrive with an offer of €45 million the transfer can go very quickly. Real (Madrid) propose €35 million to have Ronaldinho in a year and to pay a third as early as today. At the moment there is an offer from Real, who proposed a deal in two steps, and an offer from Barcelona, who proposed money and some players. There is nothing at all from Manchester." PSG president Francis Graille Seedorf - Stam Wants Milan Move Clarence Seedorf has said Dutch international team-mate Jaap Stam wants to join him at Milan : "Stam only wants Milan. I often speak to Jaap and he's always insisted he wants to play for the Rossoneri. He himself has authorised me to tell our fans of his desire. Let's hope that developments in the transfer market make this happen. He would be a great signing." Santini and Schaefer Reflect After Final "This victory is a reward for the players and staff for three weeks of dedication but it has a sour taste when you know the circumstances in which it was won. In moments like this, a handshake, a look speak louder than words. We know that a family has been deeply hurt and that someone dear to us has gone. With all the dedication and the human aspect of what we've been through these last few days, it was not obvious to go all the way through this final. The Cameroon players deserved this trophy as much as we did but in an international game you need a winner and a loser." Jacques Santini "My team really did well to play the way it did. It's not only a loss for the team, for football, but a loss for all of Cameroon. It was a wonderful day of soccer, but also a very sad day. It was important for us to play for the whole of Africa and for Foe. He wasn't just a great player, he was a great man. In the 35 years that I have been involved in professional football I have never met a man like Foe." Winfried Schaefer FIFA Say No To World Cup Expansion "We will remain with 32 teams for 2006 and 2010, and at least until 2010 we will not discuss this matter again. It is arithmetically a good number, transparent and understandable. We undertook a market research study with fans from all walks of life and came to the conclusion that with 36 teams they would no longer understand anything." FIFA President Sepp Blatter Lucio Move To Roma Breaks Down Roma coach Fabio Capello revealed that he read the news about the collapse of the transfer of Brazilian defender Lucio from Leverkusen on Teletext : "I've seen Bayer Leverkusen's statement on the hotel TV Teletext. I've taken note that he is not coming" Lucio denied Sensi's claimed that he had agreed to join the Rome club in a German newspaper : "I have decided to play for another year with Bayer Leverkusen. We have a strong team and I feel extremely good here with my family. The player admitted he had received offers from several clubs in recent weeks, although he denied reports that he had provisionally agreed to move to Roma. Neither my adviser Sandro Becker nor I had ever given a verbal or written vow to the president of Roma, Mr. Sensi. The subject of Roma is finished for me. It's a closed chapter." Lucio was furious with Sensi's claims that he demanded €4 million a year in wages : "That's nonsense. I never asked for that sum. If President Sensi claims that then he's lying. He wants to lay the blame with me and my manager because the transfer didn't work out. I'm very angry and disappointed about that. We all know that the times are no longer what they were. I'm not a money grabber." 29 June 2003 Inter To Hold Talks With Arsenal "Pires and Ljungberg are the two players we believe would benefit us the most technically. Realistically, we couldn't expect to get both but we will talk to Arsenal during the coming week to see if they are prepared to let one or the other go in return we will see if they believe we have players who can help them technically too. Player-exchange is the way to go in future because of the financial situation in the transfer market." - Inter Sporting director Marco Branca. 28 June 2003 Kluivert Available For €1.8 Million Patrick Kluivert will be available for €1.8 million from Tuesday the 1st of July due to a curious clause in his contract. In a deal signed with the clubs previous management Kluivert's buy out clause would be reduced from €37 million if the club do not pay him a bonus of €5 million at the end of the season. Barcelona vice-president Sandro Rosell said : "If an offer of €1.8 million is made he can leave the club. This is in line with what was agreed by the previous Barcelona management. We obviously think this is strange, but there is nothing we can do about it. Whether Manchester United or Arsenal are interested in buying him is something you would have to ask them about." 27 June 2003 Tributes For Marc-Vivien Foe Manchester City chairman John Wardle : "Foe was wonderful to have around the club. He was instrumental in our success on our return to the Premiership and he got on well with everyone as a player and a friend. He always had a smile on his face and was humble as well. Send us your tributes to Foe. Foe also scored the last goal at Maine Road and he will go down in history for that." Harry Redknapp, who coached Foe at West Ham : "You couldn't meet a nicer, more fantastic person than Marc Foe. He was a special boy. I just can't believe it." A statement on Lyon's website (Foe was on loan to Manchester City from Lyon) : "Marc-Vivien Foe will leave us the memory of a charming boy, the incarnation of the joy in life. We will keep of him his bursts of laughter, the music which comes out of the changing room, and his kindness away from the ground. Marco, we will not forget you." Thierry Henry : "Everyone in the world of football is shocked. The first goal was for him (against Turkey)." France coach Jacques Santini : "What happened between the warm-up session and the return to the changing rooms can't be expressed. The players did not have their minds set on the match any more" Manchester City Retire Foe's Shirt Manchester City have retired the #23 shirt worn by Marc-Vivien Foe during his season at the club : The clubs director of football, Dennis Tueart, said : "We have laid a wreath in honour of Marc at Maine Road and we're retiring his number 23 shirt." Coach Kevin Keegan told the club's official website : "Marc was not only a special footballer but a very special person. We will all miss his smile and his personality. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him and he was the ultimate professional loved by everyone in the dressing room and the boardroom. He never gave this club less than 100 percent and was a big factor in us finishing ninth in the table. I felt it was a privilege to work with him for the past year and we were still in the process of trying to negotiate a deal that would have made him a City player. Our hearts go out to Marco's young family and Manchester City will do all we can for them at this terrible time.". 26 June 2003 Champions League Pay-Outs UEFA have paid a total out a total of €475 million to the 32 participants in this season's Champions League competition. Each club received €1.62 million for taking part. During the group stages €325,000 for each match played, €325,000 for a win and €163,000 for a draw. The quarter-finalists received €2.6 million, the semi finalists €3.25 million, Juventus €3.9 million for finishing as runners-up and Milan €6.5 million for winning the competition. Clubs also received a share of the TV revenue generated by the competition. Marc Vivan Foe Dies, Aged 28 Cameroon midfielder Marc Vivan Foe died early this evening after collapsing alone, in the middle of the pitch, mid way through the second half of Cameroon's Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia. He swallowed his tongue and was stretchered off. Medical teams tried to revive him for 45 minutes before announcing his death. A sad, sad day for football. Our condolences to his family. Queiroz Insists Beckham & Figo Will Play Together Real Madrid's new coach has dismissed previous fears that Luis Figo would be forced out of the club following the arrival of David Beckham by insisting that the two players will play together, despite the fact that both player prefer to play on the right side of midfield : "If either Beckham or Figo are on the bench it is because one of them is not as their best of injured." 25 June 2003 Queiroz Leaves Manchester For Madrid Carlos Queiroz have succeeded Vicente Del Bosque as coach of Real Madrid. Queiroz was the assistant coach at Manchester United last season. Queiroz signed a two year contract and made the following comments at his first press conference : "My aim is to continue the project that the president and his board are constructing. This is the most famous club in the world. They have built a great part of the story of world football and I am really looking forward to meeting the expectations of the fans. I'm not scared of following people like Ferguson and del Bosque. They are great managers and have given me the desire to serve football. I hope God will allow me to show this with my service to Real Madrid." Roma Sign 4 Year Deal With Diadora Diadora will be the new kit suppliers for Roma until 2007 in a deal which will earn the Giallorossi €6 Million a season. Athletic Bilbao Name New Coach and President Ignacio Ugartetxe is the new coach of Athletic Bilbao after the death of previous president Javier Uría. Ernesto Valverde will coach the team after Jupp Heynckes left Spain to coach Schalke. Champions League Rights RTI Mediaset have renewed their deal with UEFA for the free to air rights for Champions League matches between the 2003-2006 seasons. Under the deal RTI will show a live game on both match days although the Tuesday game cannot involve an Italian club, highlights programs will be shown on both match days as well the weekly Champions League magazine program. Spain's TVE and Germanys Sat-1 have signed a similar deal. RTI Mediaset's three free to air channels (Italia 1, Rete 4 and Canal 5), TVE and Sat-1 are readily available across Europe on the Hotbird and Astra Satellites. Barca Interest In Aimar, Ayala and Marquez More Than Paper Talk Barcelona's 'technical secretary' Txiki Begiristain, a former player at the club, has confirmed press speculation linking the club with Valencia duo Pablo Aimar and Roberto Ayala and Monaco defender Rafael Marquez : "We have held several telephone conversations about the Aimar and Ayala with Valencia. They are two superb players that we are very interested in, but we are waiting to hear what the pair themselves think about the idea of coming to Barcelona. We are also very interested in Marques, but that could be a difficult proposition because the transfer market is complicated by the economic limits of all clubs." 24 June 2003 Hierro Sacked After Celebration Fiasco Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro has been sacked after a series of incidents following the clubs 29th league title victory on Sunday. The players refused to do a second lap of honour after the 3-1 defeat of Athletic Bilbao. Valdano, the clubs sporting director, confronted the players in the dressing room and told them to get back on the pitch, Hierro apparently told him to shove the celebrations up his arse, or words to that effect. The players said they would not be attending celebrations at Cibeles fountain, in the town hall and cathedral until President Florentino Perez's intervention. Following celebrations at the Cibeles fountain the players and staff arrived at the Meson Txistu resteraunt for a meal. Lead by Hierro the players protested at the clubs planned tour of China and refused to celebrate the title in front of fans the next day. President Florentina Perez stood up and addressed them : "Good evening, ladies, gentlemen and children. I ask that tomorrow, although many of you don't want to do it, because of what happened in the Cibeles, we put on your best suits and we go and do our duty with the Institutions, the people and the thousands and thousands of madrileños who will be waiting for us in La Almudena, in the Town Hall and in the Community. To turn this into a scandal between grown ups in the best club of the 20th century does not make any sense and I also want, each time we win a title, to see happy faces because this is the second title that we have celebrated with expressions and moods that do not fit in with winning the Liga. I ask that you show respect for the millions of our fans and that you act like grown ups once and for all. Finally remember this, take it as you like. In this club I'm the boss, not the players." Hierro, who was critical of the Beckham signing, and the way in which the club had treated his friends Guti and Morientes was sacked earlier today. Del Bosque Eager To Find Another Club Vicente del Bosque has criticised Real Madrid for failing to justify his dismissal a day after winning their 29th league title : "A lot of abstract words have been used to explain my dismissal. It's been called the end of a cycle at the club but they're just empty words. In general I've managed things well. I'm proud of what I've left behind and optimistic about the future. I don't want a year off and I'll try to find something that appeals to me. I'll never coach Atletico Madrid or Barcelona, though." Makaay Welcomes Bayern Interest Rob Jansen, the agent of European Golden Shoe winner Roy Makaay has said the player would welcome a move to long time admirers Bayern Munich : "Bayern is the club that Roy wants to join. Barcelona have made no official approach for Roy so all that talk about us being in the midst of meetings is just rumours. The only club that have made a concrete offer is Bayern." Roma - The President, The Coach and The Whore! Roma President Franco Sensi started the day with another set on insults at coach Fabio Capello : "I would make a somersault if Capello joins Real Madrid. Capello is a strange character, he fooled me, when I gave him a two year contract extension and it wasn't the right time. If he intends to stay another year after this season ends, I'll give him 3 million Euros and send him away". Hours after the comment Sensi made a complete u-turn : "If Capello joins Real Madrid, this would be a further confirmation of his qualities. However, he will be Roma's coach for the next two seasons". Then claimed to have signed Brazilian defender Lucio from Leverkusen : "I bought Lucio, Mancini (?), and Dacourt and I have to buy a forward because we don't need Delvecchio. Montella, Totti, and Cassano are staying." Capello refused to be drawn on Sensi's comments but did seem to rule out a return to Real Madrid : "I can say a return to Real Madrid doesn't interest me. I have great memories there but that is it." Not to be outdone Roma board member Michele Baldi hurled abuse at Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi following his criticism of Roma's failure to sign Legrottaglie. "Moggi should wash his mouth when he talks about Sensi. He only represents the arrogance of power and money, which is not his money by the way. He's the one who hired a whore for a referee. He represents the worst example for our youngsters." Loan Secures Lazio's Future Lazio have secured loans of €105 million from investment banks. The majority of the money will be used to clear debts with around €15 million available for transfers. 23 June 2003 Real Get Rid of Del Bosque Real Madrid have dismissed the coach that guided the club to their 29th league title on Sunday and 2 European Cups. A spokesman said : "The board of directors made a unanimous decision not to renew Vicente del Bosque's contract as the first team coach of Real Madrid. The board considered that the team needs a change in accordance with recent developments at the club. We would like to express our thanks to Vicente del Bosque for all he has done for the club." Manchester United's assistant coach Carlos Quieroz and Porto coach Jose Mourinho are the current favourites to succeed Del Bosque. Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) and Fabio Capello (Roma) are also rumoured successors. Queiroz didn't rule out the possibility : "I have nothing to say. I have a contract with another club and I'm a very honourable person, but in the next few days I must make a very important decision in my life. It is hypothetical at the moment but it would be an enormous challenge to coach Real Madrid." Laporta's First Mistake - Antic Sacked, Rijkaard Coach In an act of monumental stupidity new Barcelona President Joan Laporta has sacked Raddy Antic and appointed Frank Rijkaard as coach. Antic lead the club from the bottom end of the table into 6th place earning a credible draw away to Real Madrid and defeating Real Sociedad, Valencia (away) and Celta Vigo in the process. Frank Rijkaard, who was a magnificent player, was in charge of the Dutch national team during their ill fated Euro 2000 campaign which ended in a semi final penalty shoot out defeat against Italy. In his last spell as coach Rijkaard got Sparta Rotterdam relegated. 22 June 2003 Inter Director Names Targets Inter's technical director, Lele Oriali, has spoken at detail at the clubs transfer plans this summer : "The names we are tracking are those already circulating in the press, but I will add that we haven't given up on Ryan Giggs yet. We are still following the Giggs situation carefully but it doesn't look as if Manchester United want to lose him as well as David Beckham. The signals from Old Trafford are becoming weaker." "We have several options open to us and are in negotiations with Ajax (Chivu and Van der Meyde), PSV (Robben), Valencia (Kily Gonzalez) and Lazio (Stam). The problem with Chivu and Andy Van der Meyde is that Ajax want only cash and not swap deals. At the moment the price is too high, but we'll see how the situation develops in a few days." Best Slams Ferguson Over Becks Sale A sober George Best, who several years ago famously criticised Beckham for being slow, one footed, and not being able to dribble (he was drunk at the time) has slammed Alex Ferguson over the sale of the teams 'best player' : "It just makes no sense at all. The whole thing is a shambles and I would be spitting blood if I were a United shareholder. David's transfer is a bad deal and one that hands United's best asset to their biggest rivals in Europe. They have let him go far too cheaply, he is worth at least £35m to £40m. It's a monumental mistake and one that Alex Ferguson will come to regret. He has let his emotions rule his head. Fergie's dispatching of David will be discussed at every game United play, especially the ones they lose next season. At the same time David will go from strength to strength at Real, it will be the making of him as a true world class player." 19 June 2003 Monaco Reinstated Monaco have won their appeal against relegation from the first division. Monaco were relegated by the leagues financial watchdog, the DNCG, because of a transfer deficit of €53m. The club were re-instated by the French Professional League (LPF) under the condition that they do not buy any players. 17 June 2003 Real Madrid Sign Beckham - It's Official Real Madrid have signed David Beckham from Manchester United for €35 million. Beckham has agreed to a four year contract. Beckham's agents, SFX, said : "The deal is imminent if not concluded." Manchester United will receive an initial payment of €7.50 million with four payments totalling €17.50 million over the next four years and a further €10 million is dependent of Real Madrid's Champions League performances over that period. Alex Ferguson said "I've known David since he was 11 years of age, and it's been a pleasure to see him grow and develop into the player he has become. David has been an integral part of all the successes that Manchester United have achieved in the last decade. I would like to wish him and his family every success in the future, and thank him for his service to the club." The club's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, added "While we are sad to see David go after so many great years at Old Trafford, we believe this is a good deal for the club, and we now look forward to building on the success of last season's championship title. We wish David all the best in his new career in Spain and thank him for his fantastic contribution to the team's achievements in the last decade. We have worked closely with David's advisors throughout the past few weeks and thank them for their co-operation." Chivu Weeks Away From Inter Ajax's coveted Romanian defender Christian Chivu will join Inter by the end of the month according to his manager Andrea Pretti : "Last year we reached a general agreement with Inter, and I don't think the Nerazzurri have changed their mind." Blatter Furious With Spanish League FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised the Spanish League for ignoring FIFA rules and scheduling the Championship beyond mid June thus clashing with the Confederations Cup : "There is still a league in Europe which is playing now and this is a lack of respect for the FIFA rules. This is also a lack of discipline from this league. The calendar voted by the Congress of the FIFA in 2000 and implemented since 2002 set specific dates for national teams from June 15 to the end of July." "We will see what are the steps to take regarding the situation but obviously it does us no good. When I talked to the Spanish federation's chairman he closed his ears, he closed his eyes and he closed his mouth. As for the absent players, I would say that they are wrong as we are going to have a great tournament here in France." 16 June 2003 Jealous Joaquin Blasts Beckham Real Betis midfielder Joaquin has reacted angrily to reports linking David Beckham with a move to Real Madrid. Joaquin, whose lifelong ambition is to play for Real said : "Beckham is more the fruit of an image than a footballing theme. He has a great play with his right foot but Figo is a thousand times better, and has more class." Arsenal To Hold Talks With Kewell Leeds chairman John McKenzie has acknowledged that star player Harry Kewell could be set to join Arsenal later this week : "If Harry wants Champions League football, then he is aware of this official interest from Arsenal and he will no doubt pursue that. I would guess he will be talking to Arsenal and talking to Arsene Wenger at some stage this week." |