Zidane is the best player ever, says Beckham
July 14, 2008
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Torres praises Benitez and ´great leader´ Gerrard
July 7, 2008
LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Fernando Torres on Saturday said that Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez was the inspiration behind his goal-scoring exploits which helped Spain to Euro 2008 glory.
Torres netted 33 times in a blistering first season for Liverpool - breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for goals scored by a foreigner in a debut Premier League campaign.
The 24-year-old said that Benitez’s relentless quest for improvement since he joined from Atletico Madrid has been a catalyst for his career.
"There are days when you think: ‘My God, this guy (Benitez) doesn’t let you breathe’," Torres told the club’s website.
"At a club like Liverpool, you can’t sit back after scoring 20-odd goals and say: ‘Well, that’s it.’ After you score 20, Benitez is at you during the next training session and stays on top of you all day, all week."
Torres was instrumental in helping Spain win their first major honour in 44 years, scoring the winning goal in last weekend’s Euro 2008 final against Germany.
He added: "He (Benitez) tells you to go off on your own and do new exercises. I want to progress in life, not relax, not be complacent, and you need someone close to you telling you to keep at it.
"It is impossible to do it otherwise. We don’t always fancy someone that close but, in the long term, I am sure that everybody will thank him for it."
Torres also spoke of his admiration for the leadership qualities of club captain and England star Steven Gerrard.
"He’s a great example, and those of us who have been in a similar situation know how difficult it is to handle.
"It’s incredible the way he (Gerrard) carries himself regardless of what is going on around him. I’d love to be captain of another team one day and Steve has shown me how to be a great leader."
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Ronaldo going nowhere say United
July 5, 2008
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Manchester United said Friday the latest reports claiming star winger Cristiano Ronaldo was about to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid were "utter nonsense" and insisted the Portugal international was not for sale.
Ronaldo, a boyhood Real fan, has been linked with a move to the Spanish capital since the end of last season even though he scored a hugely impressive 42 goals in all competitions last term as United won both the Premier League and Champions League trophies.
The 23-year-old may miss the start of next season should he need surgery on an ankle injury.
In the meantime, United insisted their prize asset would not be joining Real within the next few days. "It is utter nonsense and totally laughable. Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale," said a club spokesman.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has become increasingly frustrated by Real’s very public courting of Ronaldo, whose Old Trafford contract runs until 2012. And that led United to report the Bernabeu club to FIFA although the global governing body have taken no action against Real.
Were Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford, it is unlikely he would depart for a fee of much less than 70 million pounds.
United leave for their tour of South Africa on July 18 but Ronaldo was not scheduled to be a member of the squad for that pre-season trip.
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Jo joins Manchester City for record fee
July 3, 2008
MANCHESTER (AFP) - Brazilian striker Jo joined Manchester City from CSKA Moscow on Wednesday for what the English Premier League side said was a "club record" undisclosed fee.
The 21-year-old forward, capped once by Brazil, signed a four-year contract and in the process became Mark Hughes’s first major signing at Eastlands since he replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson as City manager.
Jo, full name Joao Alves de Assis Silva, is a left-footed forward who joined several fellow Brazilians at CSKA in 2006 when he moved from Corinthians.
It had been reported that City expected to pay around 19 million pounds (38 million dollars) for the striker, who scored 44 goals in 77 matches for the Russian club.
"I decided to come to Manchester City because it is one of the clubs who showed more interest in me, although I had other offers as well," Jo said at a press conference announcing his signing.
"After I spoke to the manager (Hughes) I was very pleased.
"I was told Manchester City is a club going forward at the moment. We can go places, that is our objective. We thought about it and I decided to come to Manchester City for that reason."
Jo added Valencia were City’s main rivals for his signature. "The club who showed interest officially was Valencia," he said. "I know from the press there were other clubs who showed interest."
Hughes added: "He’s a big talent and a young man with a big future.
"A lot has been said about him and there was a big expectation on him coming out of Brazil. So with the success he’s had I think it’s a real coup that we’ve been able to bring him to the club.
"He’s a big guy, in stature and in ability, so I think everybody will enjoy watching him play."
During his time with CSKA, Jo won the Russian league and cup double in 2006 and also made numerous Champions League appearances for the Moscow club.
He may not be the only Brazilian joining City, with Hughes confirming the side were in the hunt for Barcelona’s Ronaldinho.
The striker has been told he can leave the Nou Camp, with City, Chelsea and Italy’s AC Milan all suggested as potential destinations for Ronaldinho.
"Basically that’s a process that is ongoing," Hughes said. "I don’t think the process has slowed or accelerated."
Hughes added: "He’s a huge world star and these things, if they are going to happen, are likely to take a bit of time.
"In the discussions he’s had with the club I think he’s been very positive about the idea of coming to the club."
Last season City finished ninth in the Premier League but that wasn’t enough to prevent club chairman Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai premier, getting rid of ex-England manager Eriksson after what was widely agreed to have been a successful first year in charge at Eastlands for the Swedish boss.
Eriksson, now in charge of the Mexico national side, was replaced by former Wales and Blackburn Rovers manager Hughes last month.
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Sun Jihai signs for Blades
July 3, 2008
The 30-year-old defender will arrive at Bramall Lane on a free transfer on a two-year deal after reaching the end of his contract with City, for whom he played for six seasons.
United also announced that manager Kevin Blackwell had signed another defender in Greg Halford, on a season-long loan from Premier League Sunderland.
The Blades were relegated from the Premier League two seasons ago and last term finished three points off the play-off places in the second-tier Championship.
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