Today's other stories in brief
Ferguson may have lost Tevez
ALEX Ferguson appears to have failed in a personal attempt to persuade Carlos Tevez that his future remains at Manchester United after he telephoned the 25-year-old striker.
The Argentinian, who has become disillusioned at Old Trafford, is considering his options, including a potential move to Manchester City, although that is said to be “only one of a few options” he is weighing up.
He is also said to have been nonplussed by Ferguson’s intervention after a source close to him said: “You treat someone badly for a whole year, you don’t make it up with a telephone call, right?”
The Argentine forward is unhappy at Manchester United because he believes that he should have been considered the automatic first-choice by Ferguson for the majority of United’s high-profile games last season.
Tevez is in Quito for Argentina’s World Cup qualifier with Ecuador, following which his advisers “will start talking with different clubs”, the source confirmed.
Greaves gets his World Cup medal
ENGLAND striker Jimmy Greaves, controversially left out of the World Cup final team in 1966, was presented with a winners medal yesterday along with the other 10 squad members who did not play in the game.
The presentation by British prime minister Gordon Brown followed an initiative by Fifa last year to strike replica medals for every player since 1930 who was part of a winning World Cup-winning squad but did not receive a medal. The decision by manager Alf Ramsey to leave out Greaves, now 69, was a huge talking point in the build-up to the final against West Germany which England won 4-2.
“It’s been a long wait, but in the days we played, only the 11 that played in the final got the medals,” Greaves said. “All the squad now get a medal. Its very nice – but if Sir Alf was still around we’d have probably got it sooner.”
Real deal for Ribery doubtful
REAL Madrid president Florentino Perez has cast doubt on his side’s prospects of signing Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery.
Bayern are reluctant to part with their prized asset and have slapped a prohibitive €100 million price tag on Ribery in a bid to ward off likely suitors, with Chelsea also reportedly tracking the player.
“Ribery belongs to Bayern and [the club] does not want to sell,” Perez said.
Clubs lurk as Dunne is set to leave Manchester City
REPUBLIC of Ireland defender Richard Dunne is believed to be on the verge of a move out of Manchester City, with Stoke City, Sunderland and Tottenham all in the hunt for his signature, reports Carl O'Malley.
The 29-year-old last season featured 43 times for the club he joined from Everton in 2000, but the four-time player of the year now appears surplus to requirements, with the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners having promised to spend big this summer.
Predictably, the vastly experienced defender is not short of admirers elsewhere, and his reputation will have been strengthened after his brilliant display for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side against Bulgaria in Sofia last weekend.
All three suitors could use the sort of stability Dunne brings to a side, but with three years left on the Dubliner’s contract, Manchester City are certain to make a profit on the €3.5 million investment they made nearly nine years ago.
Madrid drop another Ronaldo hint
REAL Madrid general director Jorge Valdano claims the club are already in negotiations with Manchester United over Cristiano Ronaldo.
Reports in Spain suggest that new Madrid president Florentino Perez has been in talks with United and are on the verge of breaking their own world record transfer set just a few days ago for Kaka, to bring Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.
Valdano’s comments will only serve to add fuel to the speculation that the Spanish giants have upped their efforts to sign the Portugal winger.
“I can’t answer any questions about him,” he said. “I can only talk about players who are on their way here, not about those we are in negotiations over. He is a great professional, he dedicates a very great deal of time to his work. He is a great footballer and a very good professional.” Ronaldo has been spending the close season in Sardinia and Los Angeles.
Benitez rules out Mascherano move
LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has ruled out selling midfielder Javier Mascherano to Barcelona.
Mascherano’s agent was quoted as saying the Argentina international would welcome a move to the Nou Camp.
“It would make Javier very proud that a club like Barcelona pay him attention after such an incredible year. I believe a transfer would be feasible,” Walter Tamer said. But Benitez has dismissed the idea, insisting Mascherano is happy at Anfield.
I have spoken to Javier two or three times this summer – the last time was only last week – and he was very happy, very positive.
“So I was surprised to see the agent’s comments today. He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him.
