Terry finally commits his future to Chelsea

Chelsea captain John Terry has finally committed his future to Chelsea and ruled out any possibility of signing for Manchester City.

The central defender's silence throughout City's pursuit this summer had only served to fuel the rumours but now he has come out to end the saga and insist he is "totally committed" to the Stamford Bridge side.

City had made two firm bids for Terry, both of which were rejected by Chelsea, and while Carlo Ancelotti and other club officials had always insisted there was never any chance of their skipper being sold there was always a nagging doubt until the player himself rejected a possible move.

It seems, however, that Terry did seek assurances that Chelsea's ambition still matched his own in discussions with owner Roman Abramovich.

Now Chelsea can plan for the new season safe in the knowledge that the 28-year-old will remain in west London, while City boss Mark Hughes will have to turn to other targets which include Arsenal's Kolo Toure and Everton defender Joleon Lescott.

In a statement released to Chelsea's official website, Terry said: "There has been a lot of speculation recently about my future and I want to clear this up once and for all. I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been.

"Chelsea have also made it clear to me consistently that there was never any intention to accept any kind of offer.

"When you are linked with any club or with a manager who I have huge respect for, it will always make headlines but me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility.

"I know there has been comment that I should have made a statement earlier.

"However, throughout this period there have been numerous discussions between myself, the owner and the Chelsea board and we all agreed that the timing of any statement would suit everyone involved in those talks, not any outside influences or agendas.

"What is clear to me following those discussions is that Chelsea's ambition remains as high as ever. This has been further proved by the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. I am certain that he will take this club on to the next level.

"Another important factor was knowing that Chelsea would be securing key current players for the long term. The strengthening of the squad around this core is crucial to pushing us on to greater success.

"I am as committed as ever to helping drive Chelsea forward and I will be proud to lead the team as long as I can."

Former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink expected Terry to remain with the London club.

The Dutchman, who led the club in a caretaker capacity from February until the end of the season before returning to his full-time role as Russia coach, told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "It depends always on the circumstances within the club and City have a lot of ambition. They want to be competitive with the top four.

"I haven't spoken with John, but if the team is competitive enough there shouldn't be any concern at Chelsea."

Read More ..

Inter ready for Eto'o arrival

The Cameroon international's agent has already stated the player has agreed personal terms with the Serie A champions.

Eto'o is now poised to seal his transfer from Barca, with Inter forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to head in the opposite direction in the near future.

Moratti said: "I repeat what I said this morning. I like everyone's interviews, but I prefer to wait until it's official."

When then asked if a deal had been done, he replied: "Almost, so let's wait.

"I don't know (when the deal will be completed). Hopefully today (Thursday). When it arrives, it arrives, but it's not as if it's a race against time."

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic has left Inter's pre-season training camp in America ahead of his proposed move to Spain.

Read More ..

Poulsen may make English move

The Denmark midfielder appears surplus to requirements at Stadio Olimpico and has been linked with Fulham, Portsmouth and Tottenham.

Juventus are keen to sell in order to finance a move for Barcelona defender Martin Caceres, while Poulsen is eager for first-team football in a World Cup season.

European champions Barcelona have made tentative enquiries regarding the 29-year-old, but Secco claims there has also been interest from clubs in England.

"Christian understands the situation, Secco said in Tuttosport.

"He also knows that he wants to play in the World Cup. We are working to find a solution that suits us and him.

"What is new? Something has happened in England."

Read More ..

Liverpool deny striking a fee with Real for Alonso

Liverpool have denied reports they have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso.

Suggestions the Spanish international would not be travelling on to the second part of the club's Far East tour were also allayed by the 28-year-old's involvement in training at Singapore's national stadium on Thursday.

The club insisted Alonso did not figure in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Thailand in Bangkok because of an ankle injury, although he travelled with the party to Singapore.

There have been claims in Spain that the reason for his absence from the team was down to a deal having been struck with Real and Liverpool's desire for the player not to pick up an injury.

But a Liverpool spokesman said: "Xabi is with us in Singapore, and will train with the rest of the squad. He was injured ahead of the Thailand game, people can say what they like about that.

"And there has been no deal agreed with anyone for his transfer to anyone.''

It has been claimed that Madrid have decided to end the summer-long saga in the face of defiance from Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who has intimated that he wants a fee of over £30m for the player.

It has been suggested the Spanish giants are now prepared to meet the asking price for their transfer target.

Alonso has made his desire to leave clear, and had hoped not to have to fly to Vienna on Sunday to meet up with the Liverpool squad ahead of the flight to the Far East.

But Alonso did make the trip, and sources at Liverpool expect him to face Singapore on Sunday before the squad fly back to the UK the following day.

Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza still holds out hope they can persuade Liverpool to part with Spain duo Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

With regards Alonso, Pardeza said: "It's at a standstill. From day one, Liverpool have asked for more than Madrid are ready to pay and it's very difficult to understand. But I've not lost hope that things can be resolved.''

Pardeza, who confirmed Madrid have been looking for an alternative to Alonso but with little success, also admitted a lack of progress in their chase of defender Arbeloa.

"With Arbeloa there was an option which, at the moment, has come to nothing. Liverpool haven't had much intention of letting him go, even though he has one year left on his contract, and we are still in this situation,'' Pardeza told Spanish newspaper Publico.

"There is more than a month of the transfer market left and this could change. I'm not going to deny that we'd like to have Arbeloa.''

There are also claims that the refinancing package being negotiated by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett could be delayed.

The deadline for the pair's loans to be refinanced with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia is tomorrow.

The club's American owners have been confident that they will get the refinancing of their original £350million loans, but negotiations could well continue beyond this week.

RBS have made all the right noises about agreeing a new loan package, but there are rumours that Wachovia are not as keen.

Read More ..

Eto'o agrees personal terms for Inter move

Samuel Eto'o's agent has announced the player has reached an agreement with Inter Milan

Inter have been in negotiations with Eto'o and his agent for the past few days after Barca had an offer of €45m plus the Cameroon striker for Zlatan Ibrahimovic accepted. Alexander Hleb will also join Inter on loan.

And, after Thursday's meeting with the Serie A champions, Josep Maria Mesalles told reporters the deal is all but complete.

"There's complete agreement with Inter,'' he told Radio Radio. "The negotiations are complete but it's not possible to say that the footballer now belongs to Inter because his release from Barcelona has not been resolved yet. But that won't be a problem.

"The deal is for five years, the player is happy.''

Eto'o has spent his entire professional career in Spanish football since joining Real Madrid in 1997.

The 28-year-old has had a successful five seasons at Barca but the cracks started to appear last summer when he was transfer-listed by new coach Pep Guardiola.

The Barca boss made it clear his feelings were still the same despite Eto'o lashing in 30 goals in 36 Primera Division games as the Catalan giants stormed to the treble.

And Mesalles is confident Eto'o will continue firing in the goals in Italy.

"Eto'o has been an important player in Spanish football,'' he added. "A player who wants to remain at big clubs. Did Guardiola undervalue the Cameroon striker? It's true that with the change of coach at Barcelona it was difficult for the player to do well.

"The player then showed a good performance. The contract will be for five years, the player wants to do well at Milan at Inter showed a lot of interest for Eto'o. The player is happy.

"I don't think Serie A is very different from La Liga. Eto'o has shown since the first moment of his debut in Spain that he can do well. There won't be any problems in Italy either.

"Maybe there will be a few days or months of adapting, also to life in Milan, but everything will change at the first game.''

The agreement will probably give the green light for Ibrahimovic's move in the opposite direction although his agent insisted earlier that the Sweden striker will not finalise his move to the Nou Camp on Thursday. And Mesalles claims that even if Ibrahimovic remains at Inter it will have no impact on Eto'o.

"The performance of one is different to that of the other,'' he said. "They are important players, each has to give his most for his club. Samuel is Samuel, he had a brilliant performance both in the league and the Champions League and now he wants to do well at Inter. His deal was completely independent to that of Ibrahimovic.''

Read More ..

Beckham confident of November return to Milan

David Beckham has fanned the flames in his row with LA Galaxy's fans by admitting he is confident he'll be back at AC Milan next season.

The England midfielder had a furious bust up with supporters in Los Angeles this week during a friendly with the Italian giants, with whom he spent six months on loan last season.

He told the Rossoneri's website he'll return to Serie A at the end of the MLS season but Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted the club won't be buying him.

"I hope to return to play for Milan," Beckham said. "They have remained in my heart and honestly I am confident I will greet them again in November.

"Leonardo wants me in Rossonero immediately? It's really pleasing to see that I have left good memories.''

Beckham was booed in his first home game since his return from Italy on Sunday and had to be held back by stewards after trying to get to a section of Galaxy supporters who were abusing him.

This has led to speculation he is looking for a move away, with Tottenham and Chelsea also credited with interest in him. But Milan say the financial implications are too great.

"There's no possibility for him to come sooner,'' Galliani said. "David knows that the doors of Milanello are always open for him, his lawyers also know that. I hope he returns in January, but before then he won't because that's when the market reopens even though he finishes there at the end of November.

"There are insurmountable financial obstacles. The most likely hypothesis is that Beckham plays for us from January until the end of the season and then returns to America without all the fuss that happened last March. Before January there's no possibility.'

"I saw him on TV playing very well. Not to repeat the same things always but I remember how he was described a year ago. Now everyone realises that he is a great player.''

Read More ..

Inter hopeful of Eto'o deal

Eto'o has been offered to Inter by Barcelona in a swap deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the Swede keen on securing a switch to Camp Nou.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted earlier this week it was probably best all round for Eto'o to leave the European champions.

Reports have suggested the deal could flounder on the wage demands of Eto'o, but Inter are hopeful they will be able to thrash out a deal.

Eto'o's agent Jose Maria Mesalles has travelled to Milan to hold talks with Inter officials and a five-year deal is believed to be on the table for the Cameroon international.

Moratti is optimistic a deal will be pushed through to see Eto'o link up with the Italian champions.

"I have no certainty but I'm confident," Moratti told the Italian press.

Read More ..