TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Hull City v Manchester United: match preview Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Hull City and Manchester United at the KC Stadium on Sunday Dec 27 2009, kick-off 16.00 GMT. telegraph.co.uk |
Japan's Okada has his work cut out Japanese national team manager Takeshi Okada is turning into a frustrated figure as the countdown to the World Cup clicks ever closer to June's kick off. cbc.cacbc.ca |
Inter Milan edges Siena A goal during injury-time gave Inter Milan a 4-3 victory over Siena. cbc.ca |
Is £500m bond scheme the start of the Glazer family's Manchester United exit strategy? Bond issue gives Glazer family perfect opportunity to meet buying candidates without having to put up 'For Sale' signs. telegraph.co.uk |
Robinho unwilling to return to City • Brazilian clubs in Manchester for talks• Mancini hopes Robinho may come back Robinho, the Brazilian forward who is negotiating a loan move to either São Paulo or Santos, has no intention of returning to Manchester City in the summer, despite Roberto Mancini expressing his hope that the most expensive player in English football can play a part in the club's future.As a four-man delegation from Santos held extensive talks with City officials today over a loan deal until the end of the season, Mancini was speaking of his hope that a reinvigorated Robinho would see the move as only a temporary step and subsequently return to the Premier League after this summer's World Cup in South Africa."I remember a similar situation with Adriano," the City manager said. "He had some problems in Milan [with ÂInternazionale], he went back to Brazil for six months and now he is playing well – he will play in the World Cup probably and is scoring many goals."It is possible the same can happen here because if Robinho goes to Brazil and plays for Santos or São Paulo and plays well and goes to the World Cup I think he can then come back here and be happy. I haven't given up."Robinho, however, wants to remain in Brazil or move to Spain and his Âadvisers will try to resuscitate a deal with ÂBarcelona, who are long-time admirers of the player. The 26-year-old is under contract until 2012 but he has become so disillusioned at City, and has formed such a bad impression of Manchester, that he has made it clear he does not consider a return to England to be an option.Santos are now so confident of re-Âsigning the former Real Madrid player that they are selling shirts through their official online store with his name on the back. The club's vice-president, OdÃlio ÂRodrigues, and a lawyer, João Feijó Gazolla, flew into Manchester today to join two marketing officials, Armênio Neto and Eduardo Musa, for the latest round of negotiations with City's chief executive, Garry Cook, and the club's football administrator, Brian Marwood.The deal hinges on Santos Âattracting enough sponsors to be able to afford ÂRobinho's wages. Contrary to initial reports, the player is not as keen about lowering his £160,000-a-week salary as he had suggested.São Paulo have the same issue but they have also sent a delegation to Manchester, despite acknowledging that Santos are in a stronger position financially."We've been contacted by agents from England saying that Roberto Mancini would like Robinho to move to São Paulo [rather than Santos] because we have a bigger international profile and will play in the Libertadores Cup, which would be more effective in bringing his value up again, which is exactly what they want," one of the São Paulo directors, Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, said. "From then onwards, São Paulo got interested. We've had representatives in Manchester since Saturday."Robinho favours Santos but City say it is a matter of which club has the funds in place. "Santos is way ahead but São Paulo will be in the Libertadores and, perhaps, Robinho may want to play that competition," the São Paulo president, Marco Aurelio Cunha, said.RobinhoManchester CityPremier LeagueSantosSao PauloTransfer windowDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |