A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Valdano denies Fabregas swoop
REAL Madrid director general Jorge Valdano insists the Spanish giants have not been in contact with Arsenal regarding a possible move for Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas has long been linked with a return to Spain, and recent media speculation has been of a possible €60 million summer swoop by Madrid for the Gunners captain.
Valdano denies they have made an offer for the 23-year-old though, saying: “We’ve not made any move for Cesc. We’ve not made an offer or entered into talks. We have a good relationship with Arsenal and we don’t want any misunderstandings.”
Valdano also said that the club were making progress in contract negotiations with centreback Pepe, whose current deal runs out in 2012.
McClaren back on the market
STEVE McClaren is planning his return to management and admits he could be tempted by a Championship club. The former England boss is back on the market following his dismissal by Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.
“I have read comments about managers who will only work in the Premier League, but in regards to the Championship, I don’t think you can label anything,” McClaren said. “There are as many exciting challenges in the Championship.”
'Disappointing' results for Celtic
CELTIC have revealed a “disappointing” set of interim financial results for the final six months of last year.
The Parkhead club, who were knocked out of the Champions League and Europa League at the first hurdle this season, posted a decrease in turnover of 21.4 per cent to €33.7 million while bank debt almost trebled to €10.8 million.
And although profit before taxation rose to €8.4million from €1.5 million, that was largely down to the sale of Aiden McGeady to Spartak Moscow for €11.3million, with the club warning the second part of the season would be “more challenging”.
Celtic chairman John Reid said: “The cold wind of economic recession, combined with the effects of the even colder Scottish winter and our early exit from Europe, are reflected in disappointing underlying trading results.”
Ronaldo retires after losing long battle with injuries
BRAZILIAN great Ronaldo tearfully announced his retirement yesterday, admitting his body had finally succumbed to the crippling litany of injuries that have blighted his remarkable career.
The 34-year-old was a three-time winner of the Fifa World Player of the Year, but three serious knee injuries cast a pall over his later years in the sport. In total he scored 62 times for Brazil in 97 appearances, while also clocking up 352 goals in 515 appearances at domestic level.
But the latter years of his career had been little more than a constant struggle for fitness, and Ronaldo admitted he was giving up an uneven struggle.
“It’s very hard to leave something that made me so happy. Mentally I wanted to continue, but I have to acknowledge that I lost to my body,” he said.
An emotional Ronaldo revealed he had for many years been battling hypothyroidism, a deficiency of thyroid hormone which affected his ability to stay on top of his weight.
United's financial might grows
MANCHESTER United look certain to be the first Premier League club to break the £100 million (€119m) barrier for commercial revenue alone. The most recent three-monthly accounts showed revenues rising to £24m (€28.5m) over the first quarter of the accounting year, and it is thought the second, up to December 31st, will be as strong.
United’s new ‘territory specific’ approach to commercial opportunities, agreed with the Glazer family and implemented by commercial director Richard Arnold, has allowed the Old Trafford outfit to rapidly expand that area of club revenue. The last annual figures showed a 16 per cent growth in commercial income to £81m (€96m).
Even if United do not get to the £100million mark this year, it is only a matter of time before they make it – to place United’s financial strength into context, rapidly rising neighbours Manchester City made 11th place in last year’s football ‘rich-list’ and their overall turnover was only £125m (€148.7m).
Fifa to investigate double-header
FIFA have confirmed they have opened an investigation into last Wednesday’s international friendly double-header in Antalya after heavy betting was discovered following the award of seven penalties in the two games.
Bulgaria and Estonia played out a 2-2 draw hours after Latvia had beaten Bolivia 2-1 at the Turkish resort, with all seven goals coming from the spot.
“We can confirm that Fifa has requested the match report from the federations,” a Fifa spokesperson said. “At the moment we don’t have much more information. We can only say we have started an investigation and we require the reports from all (four) federations.”
Estonian FA spokesman Mihkel Uiboleht revealed his organisation were told about “possible manipulation” after the Latvia- Bolivia game. “The friendly was organised by an agency with whom we will not work any more,” he said.
