16 May 2005 Glazer Gets His Shares US tycoon Malcolm Glazer has increased his stake in Manchester United to 75.7% and can now de-list the club from the stock market. Glazer will pay £790 million for the club and secure debts of £265 million against the club. Ronaldo's Middle East Peace Visit Ronaldo was mobbed by Palestinian children after visiting the West Bank on a peace mission. A beaming Ronaldo, who watched children play football on a playground in Ramallah, said : "My goal during this visit is to contribute as much as I can towards peace in the world. In my name and in the name of the Real Madrid players, I thank you for this reception and I promise you to talk about the Palestinian people when I go back to Brazil." Palestine Prime minister Ahmed Qorei thanked the superstar : "This is an important visit by Ronaldo, a man of peace. This visit is proof of his support for peace and for the Palestinian people." Ronaldo later travelled to a tournament between Israeli and Palestinian children near Tel Aviv as a guest of Israel's deputy prime minister Shimon Peres. Henry Ruled Out of FA Cup Final Thierry Henry has been ruled out of the FA Cup final after aggravating an achilles tendon injury during the club's 7-0 mauling of Everton. Time not an Issue Says Mourinho "I always think when we managers say, 'We need time, we need years' I think it is the best excuse and protection we can have in football, 'I need three years, so during these three years I can lose matches and nobody touches me,' I think is a good excuse. I thought we could build a team ready to compete and ready to start the season just with the pre-season. Of course, you have to improve, you have to work, and I have to say in English football, it is not easy to do that because we have no time. At the end of the season, I look back and I feel I did not have much chance to improve tactical qualities because we had no time. You play, play, play, play, play, you have no time. For example, I was, during the match yesterday (a 1-1 draw at Newcastle) speaking with my assistants about our building-up from the back and I was saying this is something I need to work on in next pre-season. We still can improve things in our game but it is important we do not lose the qualities we already have." Czech Giants Saved from Bankruptcy British company New Europe Entrepreneurs Counsellors have taken over Czech giants Bohemian Prague. The club was stripped of it's license and relegated to the second division after amassing debts of €1.3 million. Man United Duo Extend Contracts Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs and goalkeeper Tim Howard have surprisingly extended their contracts with the club. Both players were expected to leave in the summer. Giggs has signed on until 2008 while Howard has signing a four year deal taking him to 2008. Brito Set for Boavista Job Carlos Brito has signed a two year deal to coach Boavista next season. Birto, who used to play for Boavista, is currently coach of Rio Ave. Antonia Sousa, formerly coach of Beira-Mar, will replace Brito at Rio Ave. Robson Hails Greatest Moment West Bromwich coach Bryan Robson has said keeping the club in the Premiership is the greatest achievement of his entire career, both as a player and coach : "This is without doubt the best achievement of my career. Nothing else compares to this. When I was at Manchester United I was expected to win Championships and European trophies. The only expectation when I came to Albion was that we would get relegated. The players deserve so much credit for what we have achieved. Their spirit has been incredible all along. They have never accepted they would be relegated and the statistic about teams being bottom at Christmas was a motivational tool for everyone. I kept asking them why a team that was bottom at Christmas had to be relegated. We wanted to re-write history in the Premiership. That was what kept us going and striving for it and the players never gave up their belief in each other." 15 May 2005 Makelele Extends Contract Chelsea defensive midfielder Claude Makelele has signed a three year contract tying him to the club until 2008 when he will be 35. 13 May 2005 Barthez Ban Doubled Marseille goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has had his 3 month ban for spitting at referee Abdellah El Achiri doubled to six months. Barthez was initially banned for six months but three of them were suspended. Barthez is now banned until the 15th of October. The ban will be extended until the end of the year if Barthez refuses to do community work. Wenger Defends Glazer "I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing for football, or a bad thing for Manchester United. I understand there is uncertainty from people in Manchester but I don't think you can convict a guy who hasn't even taken one decision. I feel you have to be open minded and he could be good for the club. At Arsenal, sometimes I feel we have an advantage, especially in transfer situations, because we are a private company. I can react quickly and do a deal in 24 hours because I do not have to consult so many people compared to a PLC . If Glazer comes in and makes Manchester United a completely private club again then they will be able to react quickly as well. I know people have said this guy is not interested in football but why has he fought so hard to invest £800 million? You have to accept that he has been successful in what he has done before and I don't understand why everything is so negative." - Arsene Wenger Glazers Claim to be United Fans "We are long-term sports investors and avid Manchester United fans. Our intention is to work with the current management, players and fans to ensure Manchester United continues to develop and achieve even greater success." - Joel Glazer (son of Malcolm Glazer) 12 May 2005 Glazer On Verge of Man United Takeover American tycoon Malcolm Glazer has made a €790 billion bid for Manchester United. Glazer, who was the second largest shareholder  with a 28.1% stake, is now the majority shareholder after buying out the 28.7% stake owned by the Irish racing tycoons JP McManus  and John Magnier at a cost of £60 million and the 6.45% stake owned by Dobson's Mountbarrow investments Ltd giving Glazer a 63.25% share. Glazer will borrow some €400 million to finance the buy out leaving the club over £300 million in debt. He needs a 75% stake to de-list the club from the stock market and transfers the debts over to the club. Juve Plead Poverty "We do not have enough money at our disposal. Before buying any new players, we must first sell. Failing that, we'll build a fire with the wood we have now." Juventus President Franzo Grande Stevens Bladder Calls for Rooney & Mourinho To Set Better Example FIFA president Sepp Bladder has called on serial headline grabbers Wayne Rooney and Jose Mourinho to set a better example : "With Rooney it is a question of education, he needs a clip round the ear from the management. Mourinho is quiet on the bench but should be quieter after the match. I appeal to Mourinho and Rooney. As stars at such a high level they have a responsibility to the fans as well as to the game. In football you learn how to win but you must also learn how to lose - it would be good for Rooney and Mourinho to think about this." Psycho Appointed City Coach Manchester City have appointed Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce as their new coach. Pearce took over after Kevin Keegan resigned two months ago and has turned around the clubs fortunes leaving the club a victory away from securing a UEFA Cup place. City's chairman John Wardle said Pearce : "He has shown the all-round ability and qualities to be manager of this club on and off the pitch. We have received numerous applications for the job but we didn't feel there was any need to continue the process. Stuart is the outstanding candidate. The board look forward to working with him and to building on our progress." In an interview with Sky Sports Pearce did nothing to dispel rumours that star player Shaun Wright-Phillips would be sold in the summer : "There's no money to spend on players. That's what I've been told. I'll work with that and I'll have to wheel and deal. I think I've got a head start as I've got a good set of players here at the moment at this football club. It's important that I get the best out of them and maybe bring one or two in to add to what we've got." Goalkeeper Banned for 22 Matches Argentinean goalkeeper Ignacio Gonzalez has been banned for 22 games after punching referee Enrique Osses. The incident occurred just before halftime in a Chilean league match between Gonzalez's club Union Espanola who were away to San Felipe. Gonzalez apologised : "Of course, I regretted it and I telephoned the referee to apologise. Unfortunately, it was the answer phone but I left a message. Personally, I had a bad week and it all came out on the pitch. But I'm not using this to justify my behaviour. I'm not afraid to face the punishment which is coming my way." The president of Chile's football discipline committee Angel Botto said : "The decision to ban him for 22 games was taken after that we saw what happen on television. The player will be banned for any competition or league in which he wants to play in the future. It has been said that he will return to Argentina but he will not be able to play for any team from that country or any team in the world until he ends with the 22 games suspension." Jankulovski Breaks Ankle Udinese midfielder Marek Jankulovski has been ruled out for the next three months after breaking an ankle during yesterday's Coppa Italia semi-final away to Roma. Jankulovski was expected to join Milan in the summer. 11 May 2005 Milan Rule out Gilardino Signing "All transfer negotiations are on hold until the end of the season however, the figures I've been reading about (€50 Million for Gilardino) are out of the question." Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani Bielefeld Sack Rapolder Bielefeld have sacked Uwe Rapolder a day after he announced that he would coach Koln next season. The club's director of football, Thomas von Heesen, has signed a two year contract as first team coach. Lyon Reject Chelsea Bid for Essien In an interview with L'Equipe Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulou revealed he had rejected an offer for Michael Essien from Chelsea : "Only one player will go, I repeat it. Chelsea came up with an offer and left with nothing. I am ready to renegotiate existing contracts but nothing else. Sidney Govou said he wanted to leave. After what he has done for the club, he has the right to go, but that will be all. We have the best players in Europe in the midfield with Mahamadou Diarra, Michael Essien, Juninho." Beckenbauer Loses His Mind In an astonishing display of stupidity Franz Beckenbauer has called for a 20 team Bundesliga : "Out of the five big European football nations four have leagues with 20 teams. Germany has the most inhabitants but still has the luxury of the smallest league. The country deserves more football." As increase in the number of teams just increases mediocrity at the bottom of the league, creates fixture congestion, leads to an increased risk of injuries and necessitates larger squads. 10 May 2005 Chievo Sack Beretta Relegation threatened Chievo have sacked Mario Beretta after their 2-1 loss against fellow relegation strugglers Fiorentina. President Luca Campedelli said : "I made this decision and consider it to be the right time for this change. It was the only real course of action and D'Angelo (Beretta's assistant) is the perfect choice to start a new season from this coming Sunday." Ferguson in Denial Hours before Chelsea brushed aside Manchester United at Old Trafford to leave a 20 point gap between the clubs, coach Alex Ferguson claimed there was nothing between the sides : "There is nothing between the sides. Leagues can be decided on incidents like the penalty-kick decisions at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and that is the thin dividing line we have got. Chelsea will know fine well that we will be one of their challengers next year and they will be one of ours. It will be a hard league. Liverpool are improving and Spurs are improving and with Arsenal, Chelsea and ourselves it's going to be fantastic." Ferguson did however pay tribute to Jose Mourinho : "I think he has enjoyed it. It's not an easy league to get involved in for your first year in English football. The Premier division is very difficult so I think he has deserved his title. They have done very, very well and they are a very good, powerful team. I think you're going to see a very relaxed Chelsea team playing against us on Tuesday night. They have won the league and we are looking forward to a cup final so we want to be in good form ourselves, so it should be a terrific match." Le Guen Rules Out PSG Former Lyon coach Paul Le Guen has ruled out a move to PSG : "I want to go on, discover a new adventure. I want to work next year, but that will depend on the propositions I will get. I have the willingness to go abroad but I don't know where and how. I have no trails yet. Staying in France is not my priority. I won't join PSG. There were too many rumours. There were indeed phone calls but I won't go there. I am aware I am leaving one of the best teams in Europe. If I am looking for a better side than l'OL, I could wait a long time." Manchester United's Casino Plan In a joint venture with Las Vegas Sands, a hotel and gaming company not surprisingly based in Las Vegas, Manchester United are to apply for a license to build a casino near Old Trafford. The club's commercial director Andy Anson said : "There is a lot of work still to be done and any plans will of course consider the social issues associated with gambling and we will take expert advice on putting an agreed plan in place to deal with those matters comprehensively." The club have already received support from Trafford council. 9 May 2005 Le Guen Quits In a shock move Paul Le Guen has resigned as coach of Lyon just hours after the club secured their fourth  successive championship and the third under his leadership. Le Guen, 42, replaced Jacques Santini in 2002 after he left to coach the French national team. Le Guen denied rumours that he was planning to take a break from the game : "I don't know what I'm going to do next. The only thing I'm certain is that I'm not tired of soccer." Le Guen has been linked with a move to PSG. His exit will almost certainly have throw doubts on the futures of the clubs most prized asset, defender/midfielder Michael Essien. Parma Want €50 Million for Gilardino "We sold Adriano to Inter for €50 million and Gilardino, who has more impressive numbers than the Brazilian, can't be worth any less. No other Italian player has scored with the same consistency as Gilardino has over the past two seasons." Parma director Luca Baraldi Hierro Retires Bolton defender Fernando Hierro has announced his retirement from football aged 37. Hierro won six league titles and three European Cups in a glittering, 14 year spell at Real Madrid having joined in 1989 from Valladolid. His Real Madrid contract was terminated in 2003 after a dressing room revolt he instigated backfired. Hierro spent a year in Qatar at Al-Rayyan before joining Bolton in 2004. Hierro said : "I'm clear about the decision but I wanted to leave it while I'm still playing at a high level."