Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed Jose Mourinho advised him to join Tottenham. The 27-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Mourinho’s Real Madrid after falling out of favour at Manchester City.
Despite a successful stint in Spain, Real did not make their deal for Adebayor permanent.
The Togo striker revealed Mourinho was thwarted in his attempts to sign him during the summer and eventually urged him to join Harry Redknapp’s side.
“I had discussion with Mourinho about the move,” Adebayor said.
“He told me ‘you have to think of your career and if you have a chance to go to Spurs go out there, score goals and enjoy yourself’. I have always had respect for that man.”
Stekelenburg hurt in Lucio collision
Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was stretchered off after being hit in the face by Inter defender Lucio in Saturday’s Serie A match.
The incident happened in the 15th minute of the 0-0 draw when Lucio closed in on goal only to be beaten to the ball by Stekelenburg who received a boot to the head for his troubles.
It was later confirmed that the Dutch international had not suffered a fractured cheekbone as originally feared, but still required stitches. He remained in hospital for observation as a precaution, a club spokesman said.
Stanislawski still not happy
There seems to be no pleasing Hoffenheim coach Holger Stanislawski who, just a week after saying his side’s 4-0 win over Mainz was their “worst performance of the season”, now cannot find much to rejoice about from Saturday’s 3-1 win over Wolfsburg.
That win lifted Hoffenheim up to fourth in the table. Yet not even that seems to be good enough for the former St Pauli coach.
“We played too slowly. We did not take our chances,” he moaned.
“We still have a great deal of room for improvement. However, we are glad to have 12 points and to have still won the games in which we have made our own lives difficult.”
Chechen-owned Xamax owe €2.6m
Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax owe €2.6 million in unpaid debt, with most of the bills dating back to after the club was taken over by Chechen Bulat Chagaev, Le Matin en Dimanche reported yesterday.
The newspaper cited an extract from the debt recovery office indicating the sum owed to 25 creditors ranging from the tax office, hotels and property agents. Most of the bills date after May 12, the day that Chagaev took over.
Chagaev became a board member of the club in May and sacked the entire coaching staff moments after the side had lost 2-0 to Basel.
He brought in the present coaching team in June after took overall control of the club.
Latics suffer Rodallega blow
Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he suffered a suspected knee ligament rupture against Everton.
The Colombian forward was taken from the pitch in added time of the 3-1 defeat at Goodison Park and manager Roberto Martinez said the injury looked to be a serious one.
If the injury is confirmed, Martinez can expect to lose the striker for several months.
“It is too early to tell but the signs are not good, it seems like it’s a rupture of the medial ligament in his right knee,” said Martinez.
“He will have a scan in the morning but it doesn’t look a good one.”
Chelsea prepare for Anelka exit
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed France striker Nicolas Anelka is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is believed to be happy to see what options are available to him as a free agent.
Asked if Anelka had shown signs of wanting to leave, Villas-Boas replied: “Yes. It might not be the player’s expectancy to renew (his contract). We will make our efforts for him to renew but Nico has his own decision to make and I am not sure he will be willing.
“Nico as a person is very happy and he still belongs to Chelsea in the last year of his contract.”
Thai official denies FIFA grant claims
The head of Thailand’s FA yesterday denied allegations that he had personally benefited from development grants spent on building facilities on land that he owned.
Worawi Makudi said the facilities for FIFA’s GOAL development programme at the national football centre on the outskirts of Bangkok were constructed on land that he had transferred to the FA of Thailand.
“The construction process followed FIFA procedures. All money from FIFA was transferred to contractors, not me,” he said.
FIFA said it had requested an explanation from Worawi, a FIFA Exco member.