Van Persie refuses to go on pre-season tour as City, United and Juventus lodge £15m bids

Manchester United and Manchester City have made £15million bids for wantaway Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who has refused to join his team-mates on the pre-season tour of the Far East.

The Premier League giants have been joined in the race for the Dutchman's signature by Juventus who have also made an official approach.
Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed United's bid after touching down in Cape Town during their summer tour.
He told MUTV: 'Obviously Arsenal have given out the fact that we've made a bid for him. We try to keep business as close as possible to us until the moment we conclude a deal. There's no point talking about something that might not happen.

Which was it out? Robin van Persie chats to Theo Walcott on Friday

On his way: Van Persie was all smiles in training amid his exit plans

 

'There are other clubs interested in the player. We've shown an interest and that's where we're at at the moment.'
Van Persie trained with his Arsenal team-mates on Friday morning and looked relaxed.

Arsenal are holding out for at least £20m for Van Persie, whose contract expires next summer.
Manager Arsene Wenger wants a quick resolution to the Van Persie saga so he can either prepare for the new season with the Dutchman in his plans or have enough time to find a replacement.
Arsenal had been adamant their captain will make the trip to Malaysia on Saturday, but he will now remain behind, which surely signals the beginning of the end of his Gunners career.

Interest: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson arrives in Cape Town on Friday

Arsenal fly to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday for a three-match tour. Arsenal play City at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing next Friday.

Sportsmail understands Wenger and his scouting team have spoken at depth about a move for Spain forward Fernando Llorente should their talisman leave.
The 27-year-old - who scored 28 goals for Bilbao last season - has a £28million release clause written into his contract.
And Wenger would use the £20m-plus from Van Persie's sale in his attempt to lure the striker.

New man: Olivier Giroud trained with Arsenal on Friday as he settles in at the club

Wish you were here? Arsenal target Fernando Llorente and his girlfriend in Ibiza

At 6ft 5ins, Wenger believes Llorente has the physical attributes and ability on the ball to deal with the rigours of English football.
But whether Bilbao would be willing to negotiate a deal below his hefty release clause remains unclear.
In addition to Llorente, Fiorentina Stevan Jovetic and Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski have also been discussed as possible replacements for Van Persie.

Sydney 2000 Olympics: IOC awards Nigeria 4×400 metres Gold medal

After 12 years, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially re-awarded Nigeria with the gold medal in the 4×400 metres relay event of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The Nigerian team which was made up of the late Sunday Bada and Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu as well as Enefiok Udo-Ubong were initially given the silver medal, but after a meeting of the IOC’s executive board, Nigeria was elevated as the winners with Jamaica taking silver and the Bahamas winning the bronze medal.
Nigeria takes the gold originally won by the United States, who has been disqualified owing to the late Antonio Pettigrew’s confession, to having taken performance enhancing drugs at the time of the games.
The IOC also stripped American Crystal Cox of her gold medal, which she won for the 4×400 meters relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Cox, the Athens relay alternate, was banned for four years in 2010 for using performance-enhancing drugs. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency had said Cox had used prohibited anabolic agents between 2001 and 2004.
The IOC’s Executive Board, however, did not make any decision on the other relay runners in the team, saying it was up to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to decide if all the runners on the U.S. team would be stripped of their medals.
Russia were second in that race and Jamaica won bronze. Britain finished fourth. Should the IAAF decide, as it has done in similar cases, to strip the medals from all team athletes, these countries will be moved up to gold, silver and bronze.
The other members of the US 4×400 team for 2004 games were Monique Henderson, Monique Hennagan, Sanya Richards and Deedee Trotter.
Pettigrew, who committed suicide in 2010, had been disqualified in 2008 from the 4x400m race in Sydney where the United States won gold with a team that which included Michael Johnson and the 400m race where he finished seventh. Pettigrew had admitted to doping.
The IOC had delayed reallocating the medals, awaiting any new information from an on-going investigation into an American doping scandal.

Manchester United crank up Van Persie chase as Ferguson admits Berbatov is off

Manchester United will intensify efforts to prise Robin van Persie from Arsenal, after Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed he is willing to let Dimitar Berbatov go.

Wantaway Berbatov set up Federico Macheda for the only goal of United’s opening South Africa tour game against Amazulu.
Meanwhile, reports in Italy, claimed that United have had a bid for the Dutchman rejected by Arsenal.

In and out: Robin van Persie is wanted by Sir Alex Ferguson while Dimitar Berbatov's (below) Manchester United future looks increasingly uncertain

 

Van Persie is in danger of pricing himself out of a move to Juventus after the Turin giants switched their attention to Stevan Jovetic.
The Fiorentina forward could cost Juve £23million. Van Persie, 29 next month, has rejected Arsenal’s offer of £130,000 a week and Juve know they can secure Jovetic, 22, for £45,000 a week.
Manchester City have been favourites to strike a deal for Van Persie.
Ferguson’s only comment was on Berbatov’s desire to leave Old Trafford, possibly moving to Galatasaray for £5million or even returning to Tottenham.
'I do not need to herald the abilities of Dimitar Berbatov, he is a fantastic talent,' said Ferguson. 'Last season he didn't quite get the amount of football he wants. At his age, it was difficult for him to accept his position in the forward line.

Welcome: Shinji Kagawa made his debut for Manchester United...

... as Federico Macheda scored the winner in a pre-season friendly in South Africa

'He had Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez in front of him, and they are all young men. The boy has a future, but if he wants to leave it is a different matter.
'I am easy about it if he stays. I would be happy with that. But if someone comes in and Dimitar wants to leave, we will assess it.'
Berbatov released a statement on his Facebook site last week revealing his frustrations at a summer of speculation.

Meet the locals: Sir Alex Ferguson had earlier met with children in Durban as part of his role as UNICEF ambassador

It said: ‘I am tired of speculation,’ he said on his Facebook page.
‘I read the papers and I see they say £10million is my price. I go and talk with Sir Alex, and he says to me £5m.
‘So who is telling the truth?  I love this club, but I’m not going to be useful to anyone if I am not playing.
‘I want to play, I want to help. But for unknown reasons it’s not going to happen or my chances will be limited, so it’s better for everyone if we say goodbye.
‘If not, I am professional and I will keep doing everything I can to help my team and my  team-mates, whenever I have the opportunity to do so.’
Emil Dantchev, his agent, said on Tuesday: ‘Dimitar likes Serie A and would be happy to discuss a move [to AC Milan].’
He only played 21 times for United last season as he was overlooked in favour of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez as Wayne Rooney's strike partner.

Arsenal can still win the league without spending silly money, insists Wenger

 Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal can still win the Barclays Premier League despite not being able to match the outlay of some rivals.

The Gunners are without a trophy since winning the FA Cup seven years ago and have not won the title since 2004.
Big-spending Chelsea and Manchester City have enjoyed domestic success since then, while Arsenal have been criticised by some supporters for not splashing the cash.

Defiant: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

 

That, though, does not mean the north Londoners should not hold title ambitions, according to Wenger.
'Firstly, I must say that not being able to match the spending of the richest clubs does not mean that you can't compete with them on the pitch,' he told Time Out Hong Kong.
'When I first came to England, this question did not exist. Every club was run within its resources.
'The Chelseas and the Man Citys are new problems. But with this new financial environment, what has not changed at all is our policy that we will be as ambitious as ever and spend the money that we have available, if possible in an intelligent and wise way.
'We have always spent money because we are ambitious for top-class players and if you look at the history of our last 15 years, we have always had top-class players.
'It does not mean you can't win the title if you can't compete financially.'

Upbeat: Wenger feels Arsenal can challenge for title

The Frenchman, speaking before Robin van Persie announced his intention to leave the Gunners, added: "I have been in football for a long, long time and I don't think just spending money is a target that is defendable.
'To spend the money on a top player is defendable. But just to spend the money is like you are worried.
'Our fans can be proud of the way we run this club, of the quality of the players we have and of the financial situation that is existing at the club.
'Rather than convicting this club, they have more reason to be proud of the whole situation here.
'We have built a team and a stadium in such a short space of time, and have a strong financial situation - and we have always survived at the top level.'
Wenger also believes the eventual implementation of Financial Fair Play can have a positive impact on both Arsenal and the league as a whole.

Difference: Chelsea splashed the cash on Eden Hazard

'We need first to see how effectively financial fair play can be enforced before we can fully understand the impact but I believe it will make for a more exciting Premier League,' Wenger said.
'When you look at the history of England, there are Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Derby County who have all won championships.
'If that is possible again it will be even more interesting.
'If the rules are well introduced, it will be a massive advantage to Arsenal Football Club, of course, and we will be well positioned for that.
'I don't want to go into excuses but you want a business to be run properly and I believe that to lose £150million a year, you don't deserve a lot of credit to win a competition.
'I think that it is right that you balance your books - to accept the one basic principle for every company - and that's that you can spend the money which you make.
'That principle just seems to be a common sense and logical one.'

After failing with loan swoop, Newcastle line up £13m bid for Carroll... £22m less than they sold him for 18 months ago

Newcastle are ready to make a £13million swoop to bring Andy Carroll back to the club.
They have already failed with a loan move to take the Liverpool striker on for the season.
Liverpool, who bought Carroll from Newcastle in a record-breaking £35million deal 18 months ago, flatly rejected the offer but it is now clear they are ready to offload their No 9.

Hey Andy: Newcastle have made a bid to bring Andy Carroll back to the club

 

Whether £13m - which is £22m less than Liverpool paid out for Carroll - would be enough to trigger a deal remains to be seen.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew spoke of his admiration for Carroll last week and would like the Gateshead-born forward to support Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
Carroll has never given any indication he wants to move and Sportsmail reported on Saturday he would turn down any suitors.
He had been hoping to persuade new manager Brendan Rodgers that he can play a part in his plans but, reluctantly, Carroll is accepting he is fighting a losing battle.
Liverpool, who signed Italy forward Fabio Borini last Friday for £8m, would be prepared to  off-load Carroll if they received either a suitable bid or loan deal that has a commitment to buy at the end of 12 months.
Rodgers refused to give any assurances about the England frontman’s prospects when asked last week and many have  questioned whether his physical, powerful approach would fit into the intricate passing style favoured by the new boss.

Welcome: Newcastle fans were unhappy with Carroll when he left the club in 2011

 

‘He’s no different to any player we have here,’ Rodgers said. ‘They might have all the attributes but not the mentality to play.
‘It’s a bit unfair for Andy to get labelled any other way. He’s a good lad, so we will just see how the formation of the group shapes up over the next four or five weeks.’
Liverpool go to the United States for their pre-season tour but Carroll will not be in the travelling party, like other players who went to Euro 2012. He is now on holiday and is expected to link up with the squad in Boston next week.
West Ham were the first club to express an interest in Carroll and would be prepared to sign him initially on loan with a view to buying him for more than £15m should they retain their place in the Barclays Premier League.

Getting away from it: Carroll has been on holiday since England's Euro 2012 exit

Fulham are also interested and Aston Villa became the latest club to join the race when manager Paul Lambert confirmed on Saturday that the 23-year-old was one of his key summer targets.
But Newcastle would be hoping that the emotional pull of a return to his native North East would give them the trump card in this battle.
With Cisse and Ba potentially going to the Africa Cup of Nations next January and February, Pardew has been looking to bolster his attack all summer and he courted Luuk de Jong of FC Twente.

Lightning kills two footballers

Two soccer players are dead and another is injured after lightning struck a tree that they were standing beneath to shelter from a storm in Houston.
 
Harris County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Thomas Gilliland says rain halted a men’s league soccer club around noon on Sunday and the players all run for cover under some nearby trees.
Gilliland says lightning struck one of the trees, killing one of the men. Two others were also hit and taken to a Houston hospital, where a second man was pronounced dead.
The third man is in stable condition at Ben Taub General Hospital.
Authorities have not released the names of any of the men.
The Houston area has been drenched by rain the past week, flooding between 50 and 100 homes.

Fashola donates Federation Cup trophy to NFF

The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola on Monday handed over a giant silver trophy he donated to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for the annual Federation Cup Competition, stating that it represents a small gesture from him to help in re-awakening interest in the tournament in the country.

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (2nd left) presenting the Nigeria Football Federation Cup to the NFF President, Aminu Maigari (3rd right) at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, July 16, 2012. With them are: The Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (2nd right), Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Enitan Oshodi (left) and Ayodeji Tinubu (right).

Mr Fashola who spoke at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja said that his visit to several stadia in the recent past and the fact that such facilities are never filled to capacity has left him wondering on what must be done to help reawaken the love for sports among Nigerians.
He said as far back as 1992, if any match was going to be played at the National Stadium, one must get there by 10am or else, that spectator would not be guaranteed a seat in the stadium adding that concrete steps must be taken to bring people back to matches and other sporting events.
The governor thanked the Nigerian Football Federation for giving Lagos the opportunity to host and also reinforcing the suggestion by the State that the Federation Cup which used to be the Challenge Cup should not leave Lagos again where it started from.
Mr Fashola said the Federation represents a destination and a dream which every player wants to experience adding that even for the English FA Cup, Wembley Stadium irrespective of the part of the country that the player comes from, everyone that his club qualifies for the finals wants to play at Wembley.
He explained that the former Challenge Cup which is now the Federation Cup has a very rich history because it has produced many great players like Muyiwa Oshode, Haruna Ilerika, Yakubu Mambo and Kenneth Olayombo, adding that legends have been made out of the competition that have propelled Nigeria at the international stage.
The governor said that the Lagos State Government is building infrastructure and new sports centres all over the State so as to reawaken interest of the people in watching football, adding that one of such stadiums is hosting a group preliminary of this year’s Federation Cup from today.
The President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari in his address thanked Governor Fashola for his interest in sports, adding that the Federation Cup will indeed not leave Lagos.
He added that the Governor has done a lot to improve sports in the country, stating that on a number of occasions he has hosted and supported many of the national teams including the FUTSAL team and the Beach soccer teams.
Mr Maigari also gave a commitment that the 2012 Federation Cup which is billed to be hosted by Lagos will be the most colourful cup final ever.