Football Dispatch

Tuesday Football
28 August 2007
ANTONIO Puerta passed away this morning. The Sevilla midfielder suffered multiple heart attacks after collapsing near his own goal in the 35th-minute of Saturday's match against Getafe at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. He was escorted from the pitch before once again crumpling to the ground and was subsequently rushed to hospital. He remained in intensive care until early this morning. Doctors at Seville's Virgen del Rocio hospital explained that a lack of oxygen in his brain coupled with the increased stress on his organs combined in causing the death. Puerta was 22-years-old. He scored 5-goals in 53 Liga matches and was capped once for Spain.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced his retirement from football, yesterday. The 34-year-old Norwegian spent 11-seasons at Manchester United after completing a 1.5M-pound move from Molde in 1996. He is often hailed as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's best signings. Solskjaer will forever be known for his uncanny sense of timing. His injury-time goal in the Champions' League final of 1999 won United the European Cup and completed a historic treble. In all, he scored 126-goals for United. Ferguson was emotional in bidding farewell to Solskjaer yesterday. In addressing reporters he stated, "Ole has achieved everything a player could ever wish to achieve." In response, Solskjaer replied, "I feel proud to have represented Manchester United for 11-years and have some very special memories."

Despite Barcelona's claims that talisman Ronaldinho will not be exiting the Nou Camp ahead of Friday's transfer deadline, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich appears intent to finalize an agreement with the 2-time FIFA World Player of the Year. Barcelona are viewing the whole matter rather cynically. They believe Ronaldinho to be using Chelsea's interest in order to bolster his wages at the Catalan club. Chelsea, however, seem to mean business. They will table a 50M-pound bid today; and, although it will be rejected, hope that a formal offer will kick-start negotiations. Chelsea director Peter Kenyon will discuss the transaction with Barcelona president Joan Laporta when the two arrive in Monaco later this week for the Champions' League draw. Laporta, for his part, is unhappy with Chelsea's approach. He stated, yesterday, "I am hostile to any move for any of our top stars; and the only way in which any club could obtain Ronaldinho or any of our stars would be to pay the full amount of his buy-out clause." The said clause is a staggering 85M-pounds and would shatter all previous transfer fees. If Chelsea agreed the fee, the final decision would rest with Ronaldinho. Abramovich, of course, would do his best to sway the 27-year-old Brazilian. The Russian billionaire is prepared to pay Ronaldinho a weekly salary of 150,000-pounds.

Manchester City would like to add a striker before Friday's transfer deadline. And at the top of manager Sven-Goran Ericksson's wish-list is Inter Milan's Adriano. Never a favorite of Inter boss Roberto Mancini, the 25-year-old Adriano is open to a move abroad, so long as it is not a loan-deal. City had previously approached Inter's sporting director Marco Branco regarding a temporary move. And although Inter were not keen on the loan arrangement, they remain interested in selling the Brazil international for upwards of 10M-pounds. Adriano is currently burried beneath Hernan Crespo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and newcomer David Suazo among the strikers at the San Siro.

Early this year, Julio Baptista's stunning quad for Arsenal bounced Liverpool from the Carling Cup. The performance must have caught Rafael Benitez' eye; because the Liverpool manager is contemplating a move for the 25-year-old Real Madrid forward. After scoring just 8-goals in 32 league appearances for the Meringues, Baptista may be poised for a permanent move away from the Spanish capital having already spent last season on loan at Arsenal. Madrid are said to be asking 13.5M-pounds for the Brazil international. Baptista has scored 10-goals in 35-appearances for his country.

Everton, having been snubbed by Manuel Fernandes, have turned their attention to Bolton Wanderers midfielder Kevin Nolan. A natural central-midfielder, Nolan has been used in both wide positions this season by new manager Sammy Lee. Nolan is thought to be extremely disgruntled at the Reebok and may force an exit before midnight Friday. Trotters would expect roughly 5M-pounds in compensation for the 25-year-old.

Aston Villa have signed Zat Knight. The 27-year-old central-defender comes to Villa Park for 4M-pounds via Fulham. Villa boss Martin O'Neill, like many of his counterparts, had initially coveted West Bromwich Albion centre-half Curtis Davies. But with Baggies holding-out for 10M-pounds for the 22-year-old, O'Neill, desperate for help at the back, was forced to over-pay for the gaffe-prone Knight.