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07/12/2006 - Manchester City Football Club

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2006/11/02 - Manchester City FC Podcast

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Terry will be captain of Chelsea forever, declares Ancelotti

• He wants to be at Chelsea next season, says Ancelotti
• New manager compares Terry to Milan great Paolo Maldini

Chelsea's latest manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has stated that there is "no price" for John Terry and that the centre-half will remain captain of the club. Manchester City have been repeatedly linked with a move for the player, with some reports claiming that they would double his wages.

"I think that Terry is a symbol of the team," he said. "Naturally he will be the captain next time; he says he wants to be at Chelsea next season and we want to keep him forever. There is no price – he will be captain of Chelsea forever.

"There is no problem. For him, for us, the story continues for Chelsea. For captain I would like to have Terry. He is very close to [Paolo] Maldini in professionalism and I would like to keep him as captain."

Maldini lifted the European Cup twice as Milan's captain during Ancelotti's time as manager at San Siro and is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation. Ancelotti is aware that his record in Europe was one one of the factors that got him the job and he said: "I am here for this, to win the Champions League," he said. "I think this is the great competition in the world."

Ancelotti, who was speaking in halting English after a crash-course in the language, added that he does not expect many changes in the club's playing staff, but he did announce the arrival of the Russian left-winger Yuri Zhirkov and confirmed that Manchester City's Daniel Sturridge and Middlesbrough's Ross Turnbull had joined the club. He said he does not expect the team to change much as they are a great side already.

"I think that Zhirkov, Sturridge and Turnbull will be Chelsea players now. I know a lot of Zhirkov, not so much Sturridge and Turnbull. But I am looking forward to working with them," he said.

When asked if he would be making bids for Milan's forward Pato or the Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Ancelotti remained uncommitted. "I don't want to talk about other players," he said. "If there is a good situation for us we can tray and improve the team. I don't want to talk about them because they are Milan players.

"I don't think [there will be many changes] because Chelsea are a great team now. If you can improve this it would be better for me and the club."

It remains to be seen whether Deco and Ricardo Carvalho are part of Ancelotti's plans. The Portugal internationals have been linked with Inter, but the Italian club appear to have cooled their interest in the pair. Ancelotti indicated that Shevchenko is the most likely to leave. "Shevchenko will come in London on July 9 and will work with us in preseason and at this moment we speak with him to find the right solution for us," Ancelotti said. "Carvalho and Deco are Chelsea players. If in the future a player wants to go, they have to speak with the club and we take the right decision for the player and for us."

Ancelotti, who was in good humour throughout, brushed off any suggestions that he is concerned about being Chelsea's fifth manager in five years and said he just wants to get on with the job. "I am anxious to start because I like my work. I like to start now a new experience. I've found a very good organisation and young people to work with me."

Bruce targets Crouch for Sunderland

• Steve Bruce prepared to pay £14m for Peter Crouch
• Spurs could hijack Sunderland deal for Paulo da Silva

Steve Bruce wants to make an "impact signing" this week in the 6ft 7in shape of Portsmouth's Peter Crouch. Sunderland's new manager is understood to be prepared to pay up to £14m for the England striker and has made his pursuit the club's top priority.

Crouch would become Sunderland's record buy, eclipsing the £9m Roy Keane paid Hearts for the Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Even so Paulo da Silva, the Paraguay defender, out of contract at Toluca, of Mexico, is still expected to be Bruce's first recruit. Tottenham Hotspur, though, are thought to have entered the race for the 29-year-old centre-half and may yet attempt to hijack the deal.

"I have been offered a three year contract at Sunderland," said Da Silva. "But I am also awaiting an offer from another English Premier League club."

FA plans for mid-season friendly in Doha

• England may play Brazil in lucrative November fixture in Doha
• Friendly would see Fabio Capello's men play 10 games

England risk angering Premier League clubs fearful of player burn-out by taking part in a friendly against Brazil in the Qatar capital Doha during November.

The Football Association was unable to comment with England's qualification for the 2010 World Cup yet to be confirmed, but the Guardian understands that a lucrative match against Brazil has been discussed, and would be played between 14 and 18 November.

Those dates would coincide with the World Cup qualifying play-off matches for second-placed teams – Fabio Capello's side could win Group 6 in their next game, Croatia at Wembley on 9 September. That would leave dead rubbers against Ukraine and Belarus during October, but the plan to add another match to an already crowded calendar is likely to vex the Premier League's managers.

England are to play friendlies against Holland in August and Slovenia during September, and if the meeting with Brazil goes ahead, the number of games for the season would sail into double figures. Further concerns will be raised about the wisdom of agreeing to play in a country where, even in one of the cooler times of the year, temperatures rise above 30C. It is also a seven-hour flight away.

That is unlikely to deter the FA from contesting the game in return for a share of the considerable fee and a chance to market England in a wealthy area where demand for football is huge. While the ruling body will justify the Doha fixture as a World Cup warm-up, the game clearly promises a tempting financial incentive.

How much the FA would receive is unclear but in 2008 Manchester United were paid in excess of £1m to play a friendly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo greeted by 80,000 Madrid fans

• Real fans cram into Bernabéu to greet £80m signing
• 'I have made my childhood dream a reality' says Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has been presented to the world as a Real Madrid player this evening, in front of 80,000 fans at the Bernabéu.

The Portuguese winger, wearing the No9 jersey once worn by the Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano, was greeted rapturously by the packed stadium. Supporters had been queuing outside the Bernabéu for much of the day in order to gain access to the brief ceremony.

With the pitch currently being relaid, Ronaldo emerged from the tunnel on to a lime green carpet and made his way to a stage on which Florentino Pérez, the Real owner, Di Stefano and the former Portugal striker Eusebio waited. On his arrival Ronaldo made a brief speech, before touring the pitch, waving to fans.

"I am just so happy to be here," he said. "For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid. I didn't expect a jam-packed stadium – this is truly impressive."

The £80m signing signed a six-year contract this afternoon. "This is a spectacular day. I am very happy. I am anxious to go through with it and to start playing for this great team," he told the Real website today. "To me this is a dream come true. I've stated several times that my intention was always to play for Real Madrid. I wanted to be here, at this club, and do whatever I can to help the team."

Pérez claimed tonight's events "might not have a precedent". He said: "We are very satisfied to know that you made the firm decision to play for Real Madrid."

He told Ronaldo what to expect from his new adoring fans, adding: "They will ask of you the very best, but will also give you their all."

Ronaldo is the third player to be unveiled by Madrid since Pérez returned to the presidency at the start of June, following in the footsteps of Kaka and Raul Albiol.

The Brazil playmaker Kaka was a reported £56m signing from Milan, while the Spain centre-back Albiol was brought in from Valencia for a fee believed to be around £13m.

Madrid have also agreed a deal with Lyon for their striker Karim Benzema for an initial fee of £30m, a transfer that takes the Spanish giants' summer spending close to £200m.

Tonight's attendance at the Bernabéu swamped the estimated 55,000 that watched Kaka's unveiling here last Tuesday, and is believed to be the biggest turn-out for a presentation since a reported 75,000 saw the arrival of Diego Maradona at Napoli from Barcelona in 1984.

Earlier today Ronaldo, the reigning Fifa World Player of the Year, successfully completed his medical with Madrid after landing in the Spanish capital just after midday.

Carlos Diez, Real Madrid's medical chief, said: "[Ronaldo] is in perfect condition and very eager to start the season as soon as possible."

Ronaldo had already undergone initial medical tests with the Spanish giants while on holiday in Portugal last month, which the player claimed at the time had gone "perfectly".

Diez added: "He has an extraordinary cardiac and lung capacity. We have complemented everything that we already did in Portugal and done all the specific tests. Now we will be able to start working using an individual plan in order to improve his performance. For him [Ronaldo], it's a dream, and this dream starts to convert into reality from today."

Newcastle hope to start auction for club

• £40m overdraft and £65m wage bill worry potential buyers
• Caretaker Hughton follows Shearer's pre-season programme

There are still realistic hopes that Newcastle United could be sold by the end of this week but the three potential buyers are understood to be balking at the financial liabilities they stand to inherit.

With Newcastle believed to have an overdraft of about £40m and an annual wage bill of £65m the interested parties are employing forensic accountants to perform what one source described as "due diligence squared". This is an exhaustive inventory of the relegated club's finances featuring assorted forecasts for the coming years.

Meanwhile lawyers drafting potential agreements are taking time to study ongoing service contracts the club is currently committed to which could impact on the price Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, eventually receives for the club.

Although outline bids have been received, the £100m price tag is said to be an "issue" largely responsible for slowing the sale. While Ashley wants a straight £100m there is thought to be some quibbling about whether the balance payable should realistically be £60m, for instance, in order to take account of the overdraft and player remuneration costs.

Yet as Newcastle stepped up efforts to sell high earners including Obafemi Martins and Fabricio Coloccini yesterday, Derek Llambias, Newcastle's managing director, still seemed hopeful that Seymour Pierce, the investment bank brokering the sale, would succeed in forcing an auction.

Indeed Llambias was positively bullish. "There have been more than two bids at £100m," he said. "At the moment we are in the hands of lawyers and it's all ongoing. We are giving interested parties all the help they need."

As the proposed takeover drags on, Newcastle's players are in Dublin at a pre-season "boot camp" under the caretaker management of Chris Hughton. Significantly Hughton is adhering to a training blueprint drawn up by his temporary predecessor, Alan Shearer, at the end of last season.

Shearer, who still hopes to return as manager before the new Championship campaign kicks off, is responsible for his players rising early ahead of three daily training sessions, the first at 7am and the last at 4pm.

"The players are working very, very, hard," said Hughton yesterday. "What is happening at the club is outside our control but we have to prepare the players as well as possible. It's going to be a long season and we want the players as fit as possible. It's good for them to get away and be in a different environment."

United linked with move for Obertan

• Obertan, now 20, also linked with Arsenal, Inter and Milan
• Rapid, physical and skilful in front of goal, L'Equipe claims

Manchester United are set to sign Bordeaux's 20-year-old forward Gabriel Obertan, according to reports. Obertan, who has been described by scouts as "rapid, physical and skilful in front of goal", was also wanted by Arsenal, Milan and Internazionale, claimed the French newspaper L'Equipe.

The Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud was quoted as saying: "It's actually a great opportunity, we would love to see Gabriel evolve at such a club."

L'Equipe compared Obertan to Liverpool's French forward Daniel Ngog and added that the fee has not been disclosed but an agreement between United and Bordeaux has been in place for weeks.

Obertan broke into the Bordeaux side in 2006-07 and spent half of last season on loan at Lorient. He played 16 times for the Ligue 1 champions in the first half of the 2008-09 campaign and scored one goal in 15 games for Lorient.

'I have nothing to prove' says Ince on MK Dons return

• 'Blackburn experience was invaluable learning curve'
• Ince looking to bring in five players for promotion hunt

Paul Ince insists he has "nothing to prove" as he attempts to rebuild his managerial career with a second stint with the League One side MK Dons.

The 41-year-old former England captain has signed a two-year contract to replace Roberto Di Matteo at stadium:mk just 12 months after leaving the club for Blackburn Rovers.

His short spell in the top flight proved unsuccessful, with Blackburn winning just three of his 17 Premier League games in charge before he was sacked in December, but Ince believes his record is still impressive.

"I have nothing to prove to anyone, my record speaks for itself," he said. "At Macclesfield I was successful and then I won the double here in Milton Keynes in my first season.

"Blackburn was a great learning curve for me and I feel like I wasn't given the tools I needed to do the job properly up there. But it's six months' experience of managing in the top flight which will stand me in good stead for the rest of my career."

Ince finds himself back at a club which finished third in League One last season under Di Matteo – who became West Bromwich Albion's new manager last week – but believes that the Dons face a tougher challenge this time around.

"In an ideal world we will get promotion again but it doesn't always work that way. I felt that last season was a great chance for the Dons to get into the Championship but this year the league is a lot tougher.

"I felt when I left that the team was ready to go up again and we are a better side than Peterborough, and they went up instead.

"There are some big teams who have come down like Charlton and Norwich and it will be tough. We take the confidence from last season's performance, though, and I want to bring in four or five players to make us a stronger unit.

"I don't want to give anyone high expectations but the ambition is to take this club to the level where it belongs."

Ince also confirmed that he is in talks with Blackburn over the future of the coach Karl Robinson, who joined the Ewood Park club with Ince last summer.

"We are trying to do something with Blackburn to bring Karl Robinson over. He was here two years ago and I want to work with him again and then I want to bring in another two as well.

"But I will sit down with the chairman and work to get that team together and push this forward."

The chairman, Pete Winkelman, believes that Ince's ill-fated tenure at Blackburn will only benefit the Dons in their search for Championship football.

"Being in the Premier League will have made him a more rounded and experienced manager and I think we get him back in better condition than he left," Winkelman said.

"When you take on the Premier League there is so much more that goes with it but he understands that now. He has been on a big learning curve and I believe we will be the beneficiaries of his time there.

"He still has the hunger and one thing we all know is that Paul Ince is a winner. There are no clauses in his contract. It's a two-year deal and I expect us to go through that. But I'm a realist and football can change at any time. We do things rightly at this club and you can see that by the fact that he agreed to come back."

Middlesbrough's Tuncay hopes to remain in England

• 'I want to play in England for another three years'
• Chelsea among clubs interested in Turkish international

Middlesbrough have received offers from England, Spain, Germany and Turkey for their Turkey international forward Tuncay but no one has yet matched their undisclosed asking price.

Tuncay has been told he can leave the recently relegated Teesside club but wants to remain in England. His former club Fenerbahce are keen to take him back to Istanbul but Tuncay is reluctant.

"Football in England takes over your life; I am happy," he said. "I want to play in England for another three years. I enjoy England and don't want to return to Turkey at the moment. If I did return it would be for Fenerbahce but I don't feel yet ready to go back to Istanbul."

Chelsea made an inquiry for Tuncay last December and Aston Villa have also expressed an interest.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have signed Danny Coyne from Tranmere Rovers on a free transfer. The goalkeeper, who will be 36 in August, will serve as cover for Brad Jones. Coyne replaces Ross Turnbull, who joined Chelsea last week.

Colombian player shot lippy fan, claim police

We must focus from the off, says Almunia

• 'We need to be more together and focused in early-season'
• Van Persie close to new deal, Melo still possible target

Manuel Almunia feels Arsenal must be more focused and more talkative from the early stages of pre-season if they are to avoid the poor start that left them out of the Premier League running before last Christmas, losing five matches from their first 14.

"Overall we needed to be more focused at the start of the season," Almunia said. "If we had all been more involved with the mission at the start of the season, it could have been a better year for us. In the last half of the season I think everyone realised what was required and you could see the results.

"I think sometimes something has to be said to make things work right and when certain things were spoken about, it proved to make people focus. The second half of the season showed what we can do, but you have to be fit mentally and physically from the start and be fully involved with the project of the boss.

"We need to make sure the group is together and focused after the break and to show our total commitment. I am sure that because we have the quality, next season will be much better than the one we have just finished."

Arsenal will begin their preparations for the new season with the traditional trip to Barnet on 18 July before a training camp in Austria and a return to London for the Emirates Cup on 12 August, ahead of a final warm-up match in Valencia. Their first Premier League game of the season is at Everton,

By then, Arséne Wenger hopes to have further strengthened his squad. The Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen is his only major summer signing so far, although Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere have signed new deals and Robin van Persie, last season's top scorer, is expected to agree terms on a new contract shortly.

Wenger could move for Fiorentina's holding midfielder Felipe Melo in a £21m deal. The Serie A side have already indicated they would consider Emmanuel Eboué as part of any deal.

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