United Complete Van Persie Deal : City Appoint ex-Barcelona Chief As CEO : Wenger: Song May Leave Arsenal : Rossi Vows To Retire Unless Moto Form Improves : aforadio.com
Posted in Sports on 18. Aug, 2012
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United Complete Van Persie Deal
Van Persie, 29, is believed to have cost United £24 million and has joined the club in time to make his debut against Everton on Monday night.
It is reported he will earn £250,000 per week at Old Trafford.
Van Persie said: “It’s an honour to sign for Manchester United. I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game. I can’t wait to get started.”
The Netherlands international forced Arsenal into a sale after publicly stating he would not extend his contract, which had only one year left to run at Emirates Stadium.
He joined Arsenal from Feyenoord in a £2.75 million deal in May 2004 and scored 132 goals for the Gunners, winning the FA Cup when beating United in the final in 2005.
He was made Arsenal captain last summer following the sale of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona but now completes a formidable United attack that also includes Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Robin is a world-class striker with a proven record in England and in European football.
“His talents need no introduction to our fans – he has scored a number of goals against us in some classic battles with his former club. His movement, finishing and all-round ability are outstanding.”
Arsenal have appointed Thomas Vermaelen as their new captain and Arsene Wenger said on Friday that the club have already compensated for the loss of the Dutchman in attack.
“We regret that we have lost a great player and for one simple reason – he only had one year left on his contract. He wanted to go,” Wenger said.
“We anticipated this situation might happen, therefore we bought Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
“[Selling to a rival] is not what we wanted but there was not much choice. We had only one club really interested at the level we thought would be acceptable and that was Manchester United.
“At the end of the day, [selling] was the only decision we could make.”
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City Appoint ex-Barcelona Chief As CEO
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Soriano fills the vacancy created by the departure of Garry Cook last season and takes up his position on September 1.
He comes with an impressive CV, having been credited with transforming the off-field fortunes of Barcelona.
“I am delighted to take up the position of chief executive officer of Manchester City Football Club,” he said.
“The vision of the owner together with his commitment, and that of the chairman and board, make this opportunity absolutely compelling.
“The club has incredible potential to be fulfilled both on and off the field. I very much look forward to playing my part to ensure that happens.”
City have been chasing Soriano for some time but it is only now that he has been cleared to take up a job chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak views as one of the most important at the club.
“The process of finding a chief executive officer has been deliberate, far reaching and exhaustive,” said Khaldoon.
“In Ferran we have our preferred candidate.
“His experience in football and in the wider commercial world make him exceptionally well equipped to lead Manchester City through its continued evolution.”
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Wenger: Song May Leave Arsenal
Van Persie is set to join Manchester United in a £24 million transfer on Friday and Thomas Vermaelen has already been named as his replacement as Arsenal captain.
Song, meanwhile, is a target for Barcelona and it is reported that a £15 million deal could be close to completion.
Wenger is notoriously reluctant to discuss transfer business but in his press conference on Friday said Song leaving Emirates Stadium was a real possibility.
Arsenal have been linked with Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin as a potential replacement for Song, initially on loan, and Wenger says new signings are possible.
When asked about Song’s potential exit and new faces coming in, Wenger said: “Both can happen.”
“This decision (on Song) is not made. No (bid has been made). I cannot tell you more.”
The Arsenal manager added: “Midfield is a different area because we have nine or 10 midfielders of top-class quality. Just today we have six or seven midfielders available, plus (Jack) Wilshere and (Emmanuel) Frimpong who are coming back. (Abou) Diaby is available again, (Mikel) Arteta, (Santi) Cazorla, (Aaron) Ramsey, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain now plays central midfield – this is an area we have much more freedom to make decisions.”
Song joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old in 2005 and while his contract currently runs until 2014 it has been suggested he is unlikely to renew it.
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Rossi Vows To Retire Unless Moto Form Improves
The Italian has finished on the podium just twice since moving to Ducati, and after crashing out at Laguna Seca – having been running a disappointing eighth – he admitted staying motivated was tough.
Having made the decision to return to Yamaha, with whom he enjoyed unprecedented success between 2004 and 2010, Rossi says an inability to improve upon his current level of performance would serve as an indication that his time at the top has passed.
“If you ask a sportsman whether going badly for a long time has an influence, he will tell that no, it has no effect. Instead I say it has, you can feel it,” Rossi told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“This is why before talking about victories and a tenth title, which would be a dream, I need to really understand whether I’m able to fight again for the top grid positions, for victories, and finally for the title.
“Have I considered I won’t be able to? Honestly I haven’t made any programmes. I want to have fun again and go to the races with a smile.
“Should I carry on scoring fifth and sixth positions, that would mean my time has passed and I will retire: I’ve been racing for 15 years after all.”
Rossi apologised for his inability to bring success to Ducati, but said he hoped he could rise again from such a low with Yamaha.
“I’m sorry this Italian pairing hasn’t worked for myself, for Ducati, for the fans, and most of all for the guys who have worked on this project,” he said.
“These two seasons are very difficult, and we struggling very much. Unfortunately, we were not able to improve our speed, our performance, and to fight for the good position, for the front position.
“In Ducati I find a lot of good people. We had great times together. We try the maximum, but unfortunately we were not able to achieve the result.
“I have never been able to make the difference like in 2004 at Yamaha, but the situation has changed. The bikes count for more now than back then. Also, in 2004 I was 24 and at the top of my form. Now I’m 33…
“I’m a rider who has lived twice: I won five consecutive titles like only two others have managed in history. Then I lost, but I returned and won again. Let’s hope I become the man who lived three times.”
Rossi said he expected the majority of his crew to follow him across to Yamaha, as they did when he moved from the Japanese factory to Ducati.
“So I think my crew come with me – more or less the same guys that come with me from Yamaha to Ducati. But is still not decided 100 percent. I think we have to fix some of the ties,” he told a press conference ahead of the Indianapolis GP.
He also paid tribute to Jorge Lorenzo, admitting he is unsure whether he will be able to best the Spaniard once at Yamaha.
“Lorenzo has been a gentleman, he hasn’t thrown a spanner in the works. Would I have done the same with roles reversed?
“In the last seasons, Jorge has become more strong than when I was with him in Yamaha – [and] in 2010 he was very strong. He rides the M1 at an incredible level without doing any mistakes. So for me it’s a question mark [beating Lorenzo], I don’t know.
“In the last seasons I think mainly three riders make the difference – him, Dani and Stoner. I was with them until 2010, so I consider [that] I was a top rider. But after these two seasons, no, I don’t know.”
