Manchester City deny Messi move:MANCHESTER City have denied making an attempt to sign Barcelona's Argentina star Lionel Messi.
Reports in Spain yesterday claimed City had offered a €150 million deal to buy out the remainder of the 21-year-old’s contract with Barcelona, and then pay him a further €10 million a year to play at Eastlands.
But, a day after City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted the club would not overreach in the transfer market this summer, the club yesterday issued a statement denying any such approach had been made.
“Manchester City Football Club note with interest the reports circulating in the Spanish media that the club has made an offer to the Barcelona player Lionel Messi and that he has turned down the chance to join the club,” the statement said.
“While acknowledging that Lionel Messi is a world-class player of the highest calibre, Manchester City would like to make it clear that the club has at no time made an approach to Mr Messi or his representatives.”
Chelsea set to offer Cole deal
CHELSEA are set to offer Ashley Cole a long-term contract in order to ensure the England international stays at Stamford Bridge.
Cole has two years left of his current contract but Manchester City and Barcelona have already been linked with a move for his services.
Chelsea are understood to be in the process of working on new deals for some of their squad even though they are yet to announce who their new manager will be next season.
AC Milan’s Carlo Ancelotti remains favourite to replace interim coach Guus Hiddink but the club are unlikely to make any announcement until after the FA Cup final at the end of the month.
Injured Joe Cole is another Chelsea player expected to be offered a long-term contract but there are doubts over the futures of Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba.
Berbatov back in Bulgaria squad
MANCHESTER United striker Dimitar Berbatov and Manchester City winger Martin Petrov are among the 17 overseas-based players named in the Bulgaria squad for the World Cup group eight qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, June 6th.
Both missed the 1-1 draw at Croke Park in March but return to a much stronger looking Bulgarian selection that also includes Petrov’s team-mate at Eastlands, Valeri Bojinov. Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, who is also named in the squad, has ended speculation about his future at Villa Park by signing a new four-year contract yesterday.
BULGARIA SQUAD : Ivankov (Bursaspor), Mihaylov (Twente Enschede); Topuzakov (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Tomasic (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Stoyanov (Sanfreche), Sirakov (Amkar Perm); S Petrov (Aston Villa), Angelov (Energie Cottbus), Telkiyski (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dimitrov (Metalurg Donetsk), Georgiev (Terek Grozny), M Petrov (Manchester City); Berbatov (Manchester United), Rangelov (Energie Cottbus), Bojinov (Manchester City), Domovchiyski (Hertha Berlin), Makriev (Ashdod).
Death of Alan Kelly senior
ALAN Kelly senior, one of the most respected goalkeepers of his generation, has died following an illness. Born in Dublin in 1936 Kelly was capped 47 times for the Republic of Ireland between 1958 and 1973. Kelly also captained his country for a 1972 World Cup qualifier against the Soviet Union and managed his country in 1980 for a home game against Switzerland.
O’Neill keen for Barry to stay
MARTIN O’Neill has not given up hope of holding on to Gareth Barry despite interest from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the Aston Villa captain. Talks over a new contract are ongoing with the player’s representatives and O’Neill has also indicated that Villa would be prepared to in effect write off €20 million – their asking price for Barry last summer – and allow the England international to run down his deal and have the option to leave on a free transfer in 12 months.
The likelihood remains, however, that Barry will move to Anfield a year after his proposed move collapsed.
Quinn to stay at Sunderland
NIALL QUINN has promised to remain as chairman at the Stadium of Light next season but he admits some players may look to leave if Sunderland lose their relegation battle.“I don’t like thinking or talking negatively but if we do go down then it will be a huge, demoralising blow,” said Quinn . . . But I’ll definitely be staying and we’ll be pushing to invest to get straight back up.”
