Box-18 Update

MANCHESTER UNITED have signed a £5million five-year sponsorship deal with a Nigeria mobile phone company.

But the £1m-a-year Globacom contract is a drop in the ocean compared to the club’s huge debts and interest payments.

Pan-African telephone company Globacom has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with English Premier League champions Manchester United which will involve young players from Nigeria, Ghana and Benin going to train at the Manchester United football Academy.

“At Globacom, we have consistently played a leading role in identifying opportunities and providing platforms for positive transformation of youths through football,” Globacom Group Executive Director, Paddy Adenuga, told the Nigerian newspaper Thisday.

“This new partnership with the world’s most famous football club will no doubt give impetus to the quest by kids in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic to become world stars.”
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Liverpool have signed Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.

The 29-year-old winger has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with Rafael Benitez’s side after spending four years in the Spanish capital.

After passing a medical and agreeing terms Maxi put pen to paper on the deal, which is subject to international clearance.

Reds boss Benitez told his club’s website: “We were looking for players with character and a good mentality. He has played for Argentina and Atletico Madrid and is a player with personality.

“He can play in three positions – on the right, left or as a second striker – and is someone with a very positive mentality, which is what we are looking for.

“He is comfortable on the ball, can pass and keep possession. He is good at getting into the box and scoring goals and a good finisher. Every year he gets five to 15 goals from the right side of midfield.
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Holders Barcelona were knocked out of the King’s Cup on Wednesday when they won a thrilling last-16 second-leg clash at Sevilla 1-0 but were eliminated on the away goals rule after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.

The Andalusians beat Barca 2-1 at the Nou Camp in the first leg and goalkeeper and captain Andres Palop was the hero in the return, producing a string of superb saves to deny Pep Guardiola and his players a repeat of their 2009 triumph.

Barca can no longer match last year’s feat of winning an unprecedented six titles and it was the first time they have been eliminated from a competition since April 2008 when they lost to Manchester United in the Champions League semis.

Sevilla, the 2007 winners, will play La Liga rivals Deportivo Coruna in the quarter-finals after the Galicians came from two down at home to draw 2-2 with Valencia for a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola did not hide his pain after the aura of invincibility surrounding him and his team was finally cracked.
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Liverpool’s disastrous season plunged to new depths as they suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit at Anfield to Reading.

The Reds lost Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to injuries and were stunned by the Championship side, who forced extra-time before substitute Shane Long headed the winner in this third round replay.

Gerrard had seen a shot deflected home by Reading defender Ryan Bertrand to give Liverpool the lead in the final seconds of the first-half.

They held that lead until injury-time, when Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised from the spot. However, Liverpool were a shambles in extra-time and Long’s winner was no more than Reading deserved.

Liverpool were boosted ahead of the tie by confirmation that the deal to sign Argentina winger Maxi Rodriguez had been completed.

The 29 year-old has signed on a free transfer, having negotiated his way out of a problem over his pay-off from Atletico Madrid which had held up the deal at the weekend.
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Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart could be out for the rest of the month after suffering a calf injury during Monday night’s home win over Real Mallorca.

The Dutchman was replaced just 21 minutes into the contest at the Bernabeu after sustaining the problem in his left leg and, following tests this morning, Madrid have confirmed he is likely to be out for between “two to three weeks”.

Having already been knocked out of the Copa del Rey before Christmas, Madrid only have three more games in January, facing Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo La Coruna away, as well as hosting Malaga.
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SOL CAMPBELL is ready to complete a sensational return to Arsenal after insisting he is still good enough for Premier League football.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has taken a gamble on the centre-back, 35, who will rejoin the club where he won the Premier League in 2004.

We don’t know how long Sol will be around, so we’ve done a super Sol bumper slideshow of last night’s reserve team appearance for you to cherish.

Campbell, in action for Gunners reserves at West Ham last night, said: “I’ve missed it and I’ve a gut feeling this is the right move.
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Roma and Fulham have agreed terms on the loan transfer of Stefano Okaka to London but the player still has to agree terms with the Cottagers, according to his agent.

Roma are willing to loan out the 20-year-old following the arrival of Italy striker Luca Toni to the Eternal City from Bayern Munich.

“If the player will reach an agreement with Fulham, he will go to England on loan for the next six months, with an option of extending his stay for the following year,” Okaka’s agent Domenico Scopelliti told www.calciomercatoweb.com.

“Roma and Fulham appear to have reached an agreement on a loan deal.”

Fulham are looking to reinforce their attacking line with Bobby Zamora currently sidelined through injury.
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Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho faces a disciplinary hearing over an altercation with a journalist after a Serie A match last month, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Monday.

The Portuguese coach has been charged with insulting the journalist and “gripping his forearms” following a 1-1 draw with Atalanta, the FIGC said on its website.

Mourinho, whose side are eight points clear at the top of the table, has admitted verbally abusing the journalist but denied that there was physical contact.
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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted his side were second best for the opening 35 minutes of their match against Tenerife before the first goal of Lionel Messi’s hat-trick completely changed the complexion of the match, which ended with the reigning champions running out 5-0 victors.

Barca went into the clash in the Canary Islands under some pressure having drawn at home against Villarreal in La Liga last weekend before losing 2-1 to Sevilla at the Nou Camp in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie in midweek.

They had also seen arch-rivals Real Madrid provisionally take over top spot earlier on Sunday evening after beating Real Mallorca 2-0 at the Bernabeu.

And the Catalan giants had to endure a nervy start to the clash against promoted Tenerife, who went close four times when the game was still goalless with Alejandro Alfaro striking the crossbar with one effort and seeing another superbly saved by Victor Valdes.
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Sevilla suffered a damaging home defeat to Racing Santander, who went ahead through a brace from talented youngster Sergio Canales. Romaric pulled one back for the hosts, but it was not enough to save them from defeat..
It proved to be immaterial as Sevilla failed to find an equaliser, and Racing found their fourth win in five games to take them to 12th. For los Rojiblancos, it was their third successive league defeat and stay in 5th place

Los Nervionenses were suffering from an injury crisis, while Frederic Kanoute was away at the African Cup of Nations and Sebastian Squilacci served a suspension.

The hosts kicked off the game in chilly conditions and looked to put Racing under pressure from the off. Los Racinguistas were defending stoutly in the early stages, sitting deep and looking for an opportunity to hit los Nervionenses on the counter attack.

Diego Capel put in a great cross from the right hand side in the 8th minute that nearly found Diego Perotti at the far post, but it was just too far in front of the in-form Argentine. Moments later, Alvaro Negredo pounced on a mistake by Henrique but saw his shot saved.

In the 18th minute Pedro Munitis showed superb skill on the ball but Xisco couldn’t get the ball out of his feet, and young prodigy Sergio Canales eventually hit a wayward shot that didn’t come close to testing Andres Palop.

Canales is being followed by some of the world’s top clubs, and the 18-year-old demonstrated exactly why in the 26th minute. Set through on goal, Canales showed incredible nerve to chip Palop who could only stand and stare.

Sevilla were looking to hit back immediately, but Racing were looking dangerous and Palop was forced into another save from Mehdi Lacen’s shot from the edge of the box. Continue Reading »

Manchester United needed a controversial own goal from Birmingham defender Scott Dann to salvage a point at St. Andrews as they missed out on the chance to replace Chelsea as Premier League leaders.

Blues were incensed referee Mark Clattenburg allowed the equaliser to stand after 63 minutes, cancelling out Cameron Jerome’s first-half opener, and he consulted with one of his assistants before awarding the goal.

The Red Devils ended with 10 men after midfielder Darren Fletcher was sent off in the closing stages for a second bookable offence.

The draw enabled Blues to make club history in achieving their longest ever unbeaten top flight run of 12 games – a run stretching back to October.
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An injury stricken Inter was looking to maintain its stronghold at the top of the Serie A standings as they welcomed bottom of the pile Siena to the San Siro.

The Robur started very defensively but took a surprise lead when Massimo Maccarone sunk a wonder strike past Julio Cesar midway through the first half. Diego Milito got the Beneamata back on level terms with an equally impressive finish and Inter took the lead on the half hour mark when Wesley Sneijder curled a free into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The sides went into the break on level terms however after Albin Ekdal restored parity for the visitors just two minutes after Inter had got their noses in front.

Siena re-established their lead shortly after the hour mark when Maccarone slotted home Reginaldo’s wonderful square pass to leave Inter with a mountain climb as the clock ticked down. The Nerazzurri levelled once again from a Sneijder free kick late on and Walter Samuel brought the roof down as he slotted home deep into stoppages to gift Inter an undeserved three points.

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A stoppage time goal earned Arsenal a share of the spoils in a scintillating 2-2 draw with Everton at the Emirates.

The visitors had twice led through Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar but deflected strikes from Denilson and substitute Tomas Rosicky broke Everton hearts.

A point was not enough to send Arsene Wenger’s side into second place and a draw was no less than David Moyes’ side deserved.

Everton’s new loan signing, Landon Donovan, went straight into the starting line-up on the right wing with Louis Saha operating as a lone striker.

Eduardo lead the line for Arsenal flanked by Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri while the impressive Aaron Ramsey was afforded a midfield berth.

Arsenal’s midweek clash with Bolton had fallen foul of the weather but after a massive overnight operation outside the Emirates, the match was given the green light.
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RUUD VAN NISTELROOY looks certain to complete a shock return to the Premier League with Liverpool in the next few days.

SunSport also understands the striker’s Real Madrid and Holland team-mate Rafael van der Vaart may also join the Reds on loan until the end of the season.

It is a dramatic double swoop as under-fire boss Rafa Benitez desperately seeks to turn around a disastrous season.

Former Manchester United idol Van Nistelrooy, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and is out of favour at Real.

The striker wants to resurrect his international career and go to the World Cup with Holland this summer.

He knows that his first-team chances in Madrid will be limited as he is behind Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Raul in boss Manuel Pellegrini’s pecking order.

The only remaining detail to be sorted out is whether Liverpool will pick up the hitman’s whopping £140,000-a-week pay package.
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Arsenal progressed into the fourth round of the FA cup courtesy of an Eduardo header as they defeated West Ham United 2-1 at Upton Park. Alessandro Diamanti opened the scoring for the Hammers in first half stoppage time before Aaron Ramsey equalised in the second half.

The first 10 minutes passed with little in the way of attacking creativity, Diamanti beat two players on the right flank and cut inside onto his left foot, he shaped to shoot but his effort was wayward and splayed out for a throw-in on the left.

West Ham continued to work hard in midfield, congesting the centre of the pitch. This made it difficult for Arsenal’s youth-laden front line to play their customary style of flowing football.

A defensive error by James Tomkins gifted the ball to Eduardo 30 yards from goal. The Croatian took a touch and unleashed a stinging drive towards the bottom right-hand corner, but Robert Green got down well and pushed the ball out for a corner.
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Real Madrid limped into 2010 as they escaped from Pamplona with just a point against a gutsy Osasuna side. The hosts had the better of the chances in the first half while Gonzalo Higuain squandered Los Blancos best chance in the second 45 minutes.

Playing in difficult conditions, Osasuna had the better of a high-tempo first half. Jose Antonio Camacho’s side were a threat from set pieces and used the long throw-ins of Cesar Azpilicueta to good effect in the opening period.

Real struggled to win the midfield battle and relied on the advancing Alvaro Arbeloa to produce something down the left. He was full of tricks, but all too often his team-mates couldn’t capitalise on his crosses.

Osasuna came close to breaking the deadlock twice in the first half and both times it was through set-pieces.

First, it was Reversio who nodded an inviting Juanfran free-kick Continue Reading »

Leeds emerged from five years of hurt to inflict some pain of their own as Jermaine Beckford’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 victory over old enemies Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It is six years since Leeds’ loyal fans have made this particular trip – and not since 1981 have they returned across the Pennines celebrating victory. But in manager Simon Grayson they have a man with the club in his heart, and in Beckford they have a striker capable of shooting them to better things.

Those are things to cling to when your once proud club has struck financial strife so deep it sends you tumbling into League One.

And when Beckford’s 20th goal of the campaign trundled past Tomasz Kuszczak, you could just sense the hosts would not be saved – not even by the five minutes of stoppage time that must have shredded a few nerves before that final glorious release.

In a sense, Sir Alex Ferguson was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Normally, a week involving two cup matches, one against a side from two levels below, at home, would offer an obvious opportunity to blood a few of his youngsters.

Yet Leeds are no ordinary League One outfit.
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Two goals from Daniel Sturridge inspired Chelsea to a 5-0 thrashing of woeful Watford at Stamford Bridge as the FA Cup holders moved effortlessly into the fourth round.

Sturridge started and finished the scoring as Chelsea produced a five-star showing against their Championship opponents.

An own goal from John Eustace, a deflected effort from Florent Malouda and a thunderous finish from Frank Lampard were sandwiched in between Sturridge’s brace as Chelsea dominated from the start.

Sturridge, handed the task of replacing Didier Drogba while he is away on international duty in the African Nations Cup, put the home side in front in the fifth minute with his first goal for the club.
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted it is highly unlikely he will move into the transfer market to plug defensive gaps this January.

The Red Devils have suffered severely with injuries this season, and at one stage had only Patrice Evra fit as a recognised, experienced defender.

Sir Alex revealed this week that John O’Shea faces another two months on the sidelines, but both Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand are nearing a return after Rafael, Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic all made comebacks recently.

“Inevitably, people look to this month’s transfer window as a solution to our Continue Reading »

Alex song last night warned Arsenal’s title rivals: NOBODY can beat us.

The Gunners are just four points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand after Wednesday’s 4-1 thumping of Portsmouth.

Arsenal fans chanted ‘We’re going to win the league’ and Cameroon midfielder Song insisted: “If we keep on playing like that no team can beat us.

“We continue to improve but we’re stronger this season. We know we are in a strong position.
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