Archive for March, 2007
Manchester United Top Rich List
It has been announced today thant Manchester United are again ranked in top position for the World’s most valuable club. Real Madrid have been forced in to second place, with Arsenal in third.
Ten Premiership sides appear on Forbes’ list of the world’s 25 most valuable football teams followed by clubs from Italy (four), Germany (four), Spain (two), France (two), Scotland (two) and Holland (one).
The Forbes list however says United no longer command the largest yearly revenues as Real Madrid (£191m), Barcelona (£169m) and Juventus (£164m) – who all have own individual TV deals – surpassed their figure of £158m.
Read More >>RIISE BANKRUPT
It has been announced today that Liverpool defender, John Arne Riise, has been declared bankrupt by the courts for an unpaid debt of around £100,000.
It is believed that Riise earns around £50,000 a week, yet was still declared bankrupt at Liverpool County Court on Tuesday. The 27-year-old is listed as a bankrupt on the government’s Insolvency Service website. Legally, a bankrupt is a person who has debts they cannot pay. It names Riise, gives his address, but fails to list his occupation, giving the ‘status’ ‘Currently Bankrupt’.
Riise has been involved in a legal battle with Einar Baardsen, his former agent, over how his fortune has been invested.
It has been reported that the case has been linked to an alleged £3million fraud investigation currently going through the courts in Riise’s native Norway. It is understood Riise may be liable for debts incurred from failed business enterprises, including a hotel.
Read More >>Arsenal Star Out For Season
Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott have already been ruled out for the rest of the season, but Wenger has confirmed that Van Persie will now face the rest of the season on the sidelines too.
“It is likely he will be out for the season. We have spoken to the doctors and they told us that the longer you keep this kind of fracture without playing the less chance you have of a recurrence. So if he can play only one or two games then we will not take a gamble.”
Read More >>Neville Faces Injury Set Back
Manchester United captain Gary Neville will be out for a further three weeks, in the run in to the most crucial part of the season. Neville injured himself early on in United’s 4-1 victory against Bolton two weeks ago.
“The swelling has only just gone down on his ankle, so the injury was maybe a bit worse than we thought in terms of the swelling,” said Ferguson. “But he’s been doing some good work in the gym and I expect him to be back in the first team in three weeks’ time.”
Read More >>Will Hughes Replace Ferguson?
The length of time Sir Alex Ferguson has left at Manchester United is a much debated topic. Last season there were calls from the press for his resignation, claiming he had lead United in to decline. Now however, his team are six points clear at the top of the league, in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Ferguson insists he has years left at the club, but current Blackburn manager, Mark Hughes, has confessed today in the run up to his team’s game at Old Trafford, that he would like the job.
Mark Hughes is a red legend, and much loved by the fans. In his time at United, he won three FA Cups, two league titles, one European Cup Winners Cup, and one League Cup. Is he the man to replace Ferguson?
Read More >>Liverpool Star To Bolton
Harry Kewell has had a difficult time since moving to Liverpool, and throughout his career has been accused of “bottling it”. His time at Liverpool has been riddled with injury, and whilst he has shown his potential a number of times, he’s failed to do so consistently.
Harry has yet to play for Liverpool this season, and despite claiming he would be fit to face Barcelona in the Champions League, he has long overshot this deadline.
It has been rumoured in the papers this morning that Bolton are interested in signing up the Liverpool midfielder in the summer, whilst the reds will be left seeking the strengthen their midfield. Wigan’s Henri Camara is reportedly also on Bolton’s wanted list.
Read More >>United Star Modest As Ever
Manchester United are favourites to win their ninth Premiership title, and whilst the press would allow a lot of the credit to fall on Cristiano Ronaldo, many a United fan would name Paul Scholes as their player of the season. The United midfielder missed the season from January onwards last year due to blurred vision, but since returning to the first team at the start of the season, he has had a huge impact on the team.
Scholes, who doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight, today has dismissed the praise, and insists he could do better.
“It’s [his form] been all right. I know I can play better,” Scholes told the club’s official website. “I’d like to be scoring a few more goals and making a few more as well. Hopefully in the important last few months of the season I can contribute a bit more. Well, I just think I’ve played better in the past. I think I’m capable of getting to that level again and I believe I can still do better than I have done this season. I haven’t knowingly changed my game. I probably don’t get forward as much as I used to. When you go forward it’s a long way back, so I probably try and stay where I am a bit more! Maybe I’ve calmed down a bit in going forward, but I still try to keep all the elements of my game, passing the ball and trying to make and score goals. That’s always what I’ve tried to do.”
Read More >>Madrid First In Line For Ronaldo
This week Cristiano Ronaldo told the press he wanted to stay at Manchester United for “many years”. This will surely be disappointing news to the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid who have spent the past few months talking of their admiration for him. Today however, the Real Madrid president has announced if United are willing to sell, his club will be first in the queue.
“We like Cristiano, but right now he is a Manchester United player. But if the English team want to sell him, we would be first in line for him,” Calderon, the Real Madrid president said. “But we will not pay crazy money. A footballer is not worth €80million (£54m).”
Read More >>Robben To Barca For £4 million
The latest rumour brought about by the new contract rules is that Robben is on his way to Barcelona, for as little as £4 million. The new FIFA ruling allows players under 28 to buy themselves out of their contract if they’ve been with the club for 3 seasons. This summer will see Robben’s third season at Chelsea completed, making it possible for this rule to apply to him.
Robben has had a difficult season, between being injured and left on the bench, and with Chelsea falling off the top spot in the league, Robben may have even more incentive to leave.
If the deal was to go through, Barcelona would pay Robben £2 million a season until his original contract was due to expire, as “compensation”.
How likely is it that Robben will leave the Bridge this summer?
Read More >>Sissoko To Barca?
The press in Spain are today linking Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko with a move to Barcelona this summer. It has been said they’re looking for a player from the Edgar Davids mould, and feel Sissoko is the man for the job.
Sissoko came close to scoring against Barca when the clubs met at Anfield in the European Cup, reacting brilliantly to a poor clearance from the keeper, only to see his effort hit the wrong side of the cross bar.
Liverpool have been without the services of the 22 year old midfielder for most of the season due to injury, and will be keen to tie up a deal which keeps him at the club.
Liverpool have had another disappointing season in the league this year, and the question is, if Barca go on to win La Liga, will the appear be too much for the young player?
Read More >>
