Wayne Rooney has reacted angrily to reports that he could leave Manchester United this summer and insists he will instead remain at Old Trafford well into his 30s.
Reports at the weekend implied the fiery 25-year-old had fallen out with United coach Sir Alex Ferguson and suggested the striker’s new five-year deal signed in October was no guarantee he would stay at the club.
“I saw (those reports), but I’ve never seen such rubbish in my life,” said Rooney. “My relationship with Sir Alex has no problems whatsoever.
“I’m enjoying my football here and if I was going to leave in the summer I wouldn’t have signed a new contract when I did.
“I’ve signed it and I intend to see it through to the end.”
Abidal undergoes surgery – Barcelona
Barcelona’s French defender Eric Abidal underwent surgery “without incident” yesterday to remove a liver tumour, the Spanish club said.
“Depending on how he evolves, the player may be discharged from hospital in approximately one week,” Barcelona said in a statement posted on their website.
The defender, who signed from Lyon in 2007, played in both legs of Barcelona’s Champions League last 16 defeat of Arsenal, the second leg held just earlier this month.
Makelele regrets Mourinho criticism
Paris SG captain Claude Makelele said that he regretted criticising Jose Mourinho, his former coach at Chelsea, in his autobiography.
“There were lots of misunderstandings,” said 38-year-old Makelele, who worked under Mourinho between 2004 and 2007 at the Premier League club.
“Before I left (Chelsea), there was a disagreement with Mourinho, but that happens between a player and his coach. There was just a sentence repeated in my book.”
In his book, ‘Tout Simplement’ (Quite Simply), Makelele wrote: “Mourinho is a born winner. He knows how to use you and motivate you to get the best out of you. The problem is that he says one thing but thinks something else. He is a cruel and ambitious calculator.”
Pato confident despite Ibra ban
Alexandre Pato insists Milan can keep their title bid alive while Zlatan Ibrahimovic serves a three-match ban.
Ibrahimovic will miss the forthcoming league clashes with Palermo, city rivals Inter and Fiorentina after being sent off against Bari for hitting out at defender Marco Rossi, although the club have vowed to appeal the ban.
“Ibrahimovic is very important for us,” the Brazil international said.
“His absence is a great loss. However, we have some great champions who have what it takes to play very well. I get along very well with Cassano. I’ve been wanting to play with him for quite a while and will now get the chance to do so. I’m very happy about that.”
Buffon says Juve lacking self-esteem
Gigi Buffon believes Juventus must believe more in themselves if they are to get out of their current crisis and return to winning ways.
The Old Lady hasn’t won in four Serie A matches and looks very unlikely that they will qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Buffon said: “It’s a moment of difficulty, like the one we went through last year. We knew that it might happen.
“But now is not the moment to let yourself go and to break down. The fact is that important players were injured at the moment of our jump in quality, those who could have given us a change of pace. This hasn’t helped us.
“More than anything else in order to get back to being great we need the security and conviction again that’s worthy of an important team who are first or better than first. What we need a lot is self-esteem.”
Nani furious over Carragher tackle
Manchester United winger Nani has launched a furious attack on Jamie Carragher over the tackle which left him with an ugly gash on his leg.
Carragher sent an apology immediately after Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Anfield on March 6 and then waited to offer his personal remorse for a challenge that forced Nani to be stretchered off.
But the Portugal star was having none of it.
“I don’t know what Carragher was thinking but I do know what he did was not football,” said Nani.
“He came to apologise after the game. But I was not happy.
“It is the second time he injured me. Before he put me out of the game for two months. He always tackles like that.”
Sampdoria to target Gasperini
Sampdoria will try and appoint former Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini in the summer, reports in Italy said yesterday.
Alberto Cavasin is in charge on an interim basis but is not expected to get the job once the season ends.
Sampdoria are aware that following the departure of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, a cycle has come to an end at the club and a rebuilding phase is necessary.
Gasperini spent four years with Genoa, winning promotion to Serie B and getting the club back into Europe in quick succession to critical acclaim. He was dismissed in November.