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26.01.09
SPORTS SUPPLEMENT
Beckham deal is up to him say AC Milan AC MILAN are willing to negotiate a permanent deal to sign David Beckham from Los Angeles Galaxy, but insist it will come down to the player’s preference. Beckham, who scored his first goal for Milan in the 4-1 win over Bologna yesterday, is due to return to America at the beginning of March for the start of the new Major League Soccer season but appears to be leaving his options open. Milan made it clear today they would be prepared to speak to the Galaxy but that the decision to stay would be “exclusively” Beckham’s. Rossoneri coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “In football everything is possible. “Milan’s position is the same as it was and no pressure will be made. “The choice remains exclusively his. “Our desire is that he continues with us. When March 9 comes and he returns to America that will sadden us because of the help he is giving his team in terms of quality of play and balance. “He has had the ability to come in and right away have a starring role. “It is all down to him, his desire and willingness to return to play in a league and in an important team.”
Beckham (pictured) fuelled reports he will remain in Italy to help the Rossoneri battle for the Scudetto title, saying at the weekend: “I can’t say what will happen. My contract says that I’ll be here until March. We’ll have to see. “At the moment I’m enjoying this experience. I’m at one of the biggest clubs in the world.” Milan midfielder Kaka, no stranger to a transfer saga having turned down a record-breaking move to Manchester City last week, endorsed Beckham’s stay. “It was beautiful to see Beckham’s first goal in the Rossoneri colours,” said the Brazil playmaker. “He is a great professional, he puts in a lot of effort and works very hard to give a great contribution to the team. “When he scored we were all delighted and we ran towards him to hug him because he is a great man. We hope he can stay longer.” Club lawyer Leandro Cantamessa also expressed his willingness today to enter discussions with the Galaxy. “After March anything can happen,” Cantamessa told television channel Skysport24. “It is a very complicated situation at the moment.”
Redknapp hits back at his transfer critics TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp has reacted to accusations of deliberately unsettling Kenwyne Jones by suggesting Sunderland have targeted Darren Bent. Redknapp (pictured) defended his club’s transfer conduct during a January window where Spurs have angered Middlesbrough in their pursuit of Stewart Downing and now Sunderland. Black Cats manager Ricky Sbragia has made no secret of his fury at the manner of Spurs’ approach for Jones - but Redknapp has revealed how Bent has been made aware of interest from Sunderland. “Is someone upsetting Darren Bent? He came to see me and says ‘I hear Sunderland want me’,” Redknapp said. “I said ‘I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to anyone at Sunderland’. “He said ‘well my agent says they want me’. So someone is talking to someone. I could say the same thing, that Sunderland are upsetting Darren Bent.” Redknapp also rejected claims of turning Jones’ head by highlighting how Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been in continued dialogue with Sunderland counterpart Niall Quinn. He said: “If you don’t want to sell him you say ‘no, thank you very much’. That is the end of it.
“There must be a glimmer of hope with both parties or you don’t talk to each other any more. Why are we talking? Don’t talk if you don’t want to sell. “If you asked me if I wanted to sell my car and I said ‘no’, that is the end of it. You don’t keep ringing me up.” Redknapp claims Spurs had been given encouragement over a possible deal but Levy has since told his manager that Jones could now sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light. Brokering a deal for Pascal Chimbonda proved to be easier, with the French full-back returning to Spurs six months after leaving for Sunderland. Chimbonda upset fans by storming down the tunnel when he was substituted during the Carling Cup final last season - but Redknapp does not see that being an issue. “If he come here and starts roaring down the line and crossing balls and scoring goals it isn’t a problem,” he said. “If he plays badly he will be unpopular.” Carlo Cudicini has also arrived from Chelsea on a free transfer after Redknapp fought off competition to secure the veteran goalkeeper’s signature. “He turned down an offer not so long ago from Man City,” Redknapp said. “I tapped him up anyway,” joked Redknapp.
Defeated: Andy Murray was unbeaten in 2009, with wins against Nadal and Federer under his belt, before today’s loss
Too much, too soon for fallen favourite Murray By Frank Malley
THE bookies were wrong and Roger Federer had a point after all.
The installation of Andy Murray as favourite for the Australian Open looked pretty dim after the 21year-old Scot took a sharp exit out of Melbourne after being beaten in the fourth round by 14th seed Fernando Verdasco. But let’s not blame Murray for the heightened expectation, which had some observers plotting his route to a final with Federer as if carved in stone. Let’s not blame him for fuelling the fever by beating Federer twice already this year and Rafael Nadal once. Let’s not blame him for running into an opponent in the form of his life in a tournament which is renowned for its upsets. Instead, let us hope the best British tennis player for 73 years learns the lessons of his reality check Down Under. One is that champions invariably dig deep into the core of their greatness when it is most needed. They find a way to come through even when they are not playing at their best. Fe-
derer gave a classic example of that quality when coming from two sets down to beat Tomas Berdych at the weekend. An angst surfaced when what was required was an icecool demeanour to work out a route past the Spaniard. Another lesson is not to get too far ahead of himself. Murray has raced at such frantic speed to the tennis summit that it is hardly surprising that he should hit the odd obstacle or two. His body has been strengthened this past year by working with a coterie of fitness trainers and the variety of his play has been a revelation.
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HE PLAYED BETTER THAN ME Yet the most vital space at the sharp end of a Grand Slam has always been that between a player’s ears. Listen to what Federer said at the weekend when irritated by questions about the Scot’s form and the possibility of going five sets with him. “I don’t know how fit Murray is. I’ll take him on any day in a five-setter,” said Federer.
Murray says he’s to blame, not bookies
Flying the flag: Murray after his third round win against Jurgen Melzer “He’s younger so he’s probably not so experienced. In the end it becomes very mental and I know that this is where my biggest strength always comes into play. That’s why I’m always going to favour myself in a fifth set.” The voice of reason and experience. The voice of one who has been there and done it - 13 times and counting in Grand Slams to date. In the hurry to anoint Murray, Federer’s legend perhaps has been trivialised. The truth is that Murray has beaten Federer five times in seven meetings but always over three sets.
The only occasion they met in a five-set Grand Slam, last year’s US Open final, Federer won without breaking sweat. Mental maturity comes only with playing matches, lots of them, at the highest level, under intense pressure. The signs are it will come Murray’s way soon enough. Yet perhaps the best hope for the future to emerge from the disappointment of Melbourne was the manner in which Murray dealt with defeat. No excuses about the cold and cough which had laid him low over the weekend and disrupted his practice.
No self-pity. Nothing but praise for an opponent he had beaten in their five previous meetings but whose 2-6 6-1 1-6 6-3 6-4 victory contained many of those special moments which make sport so gloriously unpredictable. Murray admitted: “The fourth set, I think he served 93% first serves. Sometimes you’ve just got to say, ‘Too good - he played better than me’.” It was an honest and generous appraisal. The mark of a man who had come face to face with reality and, hopefully, learned from it.
Andy Murray insisted being favourite for the Australian Open title did not weigh heavily on him after he crashed out in the fourth round to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. “It did not make a whole lot of difference to the way I played in my matches,” said the British number one, who lost 2-6 6-1 1-6 6-3 6-4 to 14th-seeded Verdasco. “You know, I felt comfortable from the start. It didn’t make a whole lot of difference to me. Other players, including Federer and reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, questioned Murray’s right to be favourite in this year’s tournament, and following his defeat the Scot admitted: “I don’t know if I’ll be the favourite for a slam in the next year or so after today. “But it doesn’t really bother me. If I’m the favourite to win, whatever. I play the same as I am when I’m the underdog. “I try my best to win. I think I give 100% in all my matches. If I lose, I lose. If I win, I win.”
Manchester City line up £40m double swoop Arsenal finally on the brink of Arshavin deal By Simon Stone
THE last week of the transfer window looks like being a busy one for Manchester City. Although they missed out on Kaka after the former FIFA World Player of the Year snubbed a massive contract offer to remain with AC Milan, three internationals have already joined, with Shay Given and Roque Santa Cruz set to link up with the Eastlands outfit as well.
While manager Mark Hughes has been unable to conclude either deal as quickly as he would like, Newcastle’s decision to hand Steve Harper a contract extension points to Given’s likely exit. The transfer may drag on a little bit, not least because the Magpies want someone - Nedum Onuoha, Richard Dunne and Micah Richards have been mentioned - in return for the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper. But once Newcastle’s Pre-
mier League trip to City on Wednesday is out of the way, talks are expected to be concluded swiftly, allowing Given to provide Hughes’ side with the solidity it needs to make the most of their attacking prowess. The long-serving goalkeeper is valued at £15m by Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear. Santa Cruz was originally a target last summer. But, wary of the damage losing their star striker could do in their battle to avoid the drop, Blackburn have refused to budge from a £25million asking price. However, with Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy forging a productive partnership and results slowly starting to improve under new boss Sam Allardyce, Rovers might be ready to cash in while there is still time to strengthen in other areas. With Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong already on board, Hughes would then have a squad capable of forcing its way up the table and making a concerted
By Mike McGrath
ZENIT St Petersburg have released a statement claiming that agreeing personal terms with Andrei Arshavin is the only obstacle Arsenal need to overcome before signing the Russia playmaker.
Swoop: Hughes may land Santa Cruz for £25m effort to win the UEFA Cup, the only trophy still on offer to the Blues this season. It is that ‘glass half-full’ scenario Hughes is believed to have emphasised during his reunion with record signing Robinho, who went AWOL from the club’s warm-weather training camp in Tenerife last week. However, with Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy forging a productive partnership and results slowly starting to improve under new
boss Sam Allardyce, Rovers might be ready to cash in while there is still time to strengthen in other areas. With Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong already on board, Hughes would then have a squad capable of forcing its way up the table and making a concerted effort to win the UEFA Cup, the only trophy still on offer to the Blues. Record signing Robinho briefly went AWOL last week but returned today.
The announcement from Arshavin’s club, posted on their official website, suggests a fee has been agreed for the midfielder who caught the eye for his country during the European Championships last summer. “The fundamental understanding over the transfer of the player is achieved between the clubs,” read the statement. “At the moment the basic obstacle in realisation of the transaction is Andrei Arshavin’s personal requirements.” Arshavin is waiting for the “final decision” over his move, believed to be worth around £15m.
“I’m waiting for a final decision,” Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport Express. “The talks don’t depend on me. I haven’t been in touch with the club management, so I haven’t heard a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ yet.” Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has backed Arshavin, his former Zenit team-mate, to be a success in England. “Andrei has spent many years in Zenit and I want him to join a big European club and show what he is worth,” said Skrtel, who also suggested Arshavin would like to play in Spain. “He played wonderfully at Euro 2008 and I am sure he can continue playing on the same level as in the summer.” Another player linked with a move to Arsenal is Manchester City’s Micah Richards, although the England defender insists he is happy at Eastlands. “It’s always flattering being linked with a club like Arsenal, and they have one of the best managers in the world in
Hush: Arsenal have been tight-lipped on deal Arsene Wenger,” he told his own website www.micahrichards.com. “However, as I said before, I’m happy at Manchester City and believe that the club is going in the right direction. “We’ve had a difficult season all round which can affect performances, but I think that I can continue my development at City and hopefully win some trophies. “I’m still young and still learning, and I’m fully settled
at the club and believe that Mark Hughes will help me to improve my game.” It is thought that Manchester City’s billionaire owners may further scupper any hope of the England defender joining Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has maintained a strict transfer policy at the club in recent years and will not pay over the odds. Meanwhile, Tomas Rosicky has been reported to be back in training following his longterm knee problems.