I followed my heart, says Milan's Kaka

MILAN, Italy (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Kaka has revealed that he followed his heart in choosing to stay at AC Milan rather than take up an offer of a reported 15 million euros a season to join Manchester City.

Milan president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced the news late on Monday to end one of the most dramatic transfer sagas of all time.

Moneybags City, owned by the Abu Dhabi Group, had bid a reported world record 100 million euros for the former World Player of the Year and Milan gave the 26-year-old permission to talk to the English Premier League club.

But Kaka has told Milan's official TV channel that the Italian giants' fans had played a significant role in convincing him to stay.

"All the messages I received convinced me to choose with my heart and I think in the end that's what I did. It was definitely not a financial decision," he said.

"There were bits of information, claims, a lot of speculation which over these last few days even created a bad impression of my father.

"That's not the case, I've never argued with my father. I always make decisions within the family, my wife has also been wonderful, she helped me a lot and has always supported me in my decisions.

"My family have been great and never tried to push me one way or another. In the end it is my history which has been decisive, where my legacy is and where in reality my heart is."

Kaka denied that he was using the interest from City to try to get a pay rise at Milan, where he is already supposedly the second highest paid player in Italy behind Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"There have also been claims made that every time offers are made for me it's because I want to renew my contract," he added.

"That's not true. Every time a team has come and proposed something to me it's Milan who have tried to please me.

"For this I have to thank everyone who works at Milan."

Kaka, somewhat diplomatically, described Berlusconi and Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani as incredible people and thanked Milan's technical director and his compatriot Leonardo, a former player at the club.

"He is more than a friend, someone who is always close by," he said. "Right now I don't want to change anything, I want some peace and quiet."

A devout evangelical Christian who removes his jersey to display a T-shirt bearing the message 'I Belong to Jesus' whenever Milan win something, Kaka revealed he had prayed a lot over these last few days.

"It was an emotional and unforgettable night," he said about Monday. "My team-mates have been great, they supported me, they touched me."

Fans who on Monday had protested against the proposed sale outside Kaka's home and Milan's headquarters on Monday quickly began celebrating.

"He's staying with us, he's staying with us," went up the cheer after news broke that the Brazilian had rejected City.

Berlusconi, who had previously said Milan could not stand in Kaka's way with such a sum of money on the table, praised the attacking midfielder for rejecting financial riches.

"We're all delighted," he said. "But he didn't want to leave even for a perfect offer from Manchester (City) and he said no without even knowing what the offer was.

"Hence, he is staying with us and we can't be anything but delighted because money is important but there are other things more important than money."

And the Italian prime minister insisted Milan had never accepted City's bid.

"No, we told Kaka to think about it, as we did with (Andrei) Shevchenko (when he joined Chelsea), we said we didn't want to prohibit someone from considering an offer that was double what Milan could pay, also because it was clear we could not make a counter offer because had we, we would have had to do likewise with all the other players and that wouldn't have been logical or in our budget.

"Kaka never expected us to make an offer and as a fan I have to say I'm delighted."

Galliani for his part said Milan's fans had to thank Berlusconi for not taking the money on offer.

"Once more the fans should thank president Berlusconi for his economic strength," he said.

"Because there was a strong temptation in front of us and a number that was a stratospheric world record."

AIG will not renew Man Utd sponsorship

LONDON (Reuters) - American insurance giant AIG said on Wednesday it would not renew its shirt sponsorship deal with European and world club football champions Manchester United.

The American company also said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters that it was "in active discussions" with the club regarding the current four-year $100 million (73 million pound) deal, which runs until next May.

Once the world's biggest insurer by market value, AIG averted bankruptcy in September last year with an $85 billion federal bailout, which later swelled to about $152 billion.

The company has started selling assets to raise funds to repay a part of the government bailout.

"Following the loan from the Fed, AIG has been reviewing all its sponsorships to identify those essential to maximizing the value of AIG businesses," AIG said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

"In October, AIG told Manchester United that it is not renewing its sponsorship. Further, AIG has been in active discussions with the club regarding the current contract, which expires in May 2010," it added.

Manchester United was not immediately available for comment.

The news comes a day after it emerged that the English Premier League champions had approached Indian company Sahara as a potential replacement for AIG.

Football Boots/Soccer Cleats: Top new releases - Week 2 2009

#5 Nike Mercurial Vapor IV - charcoal
The Nike Mercurial Vapor IV is strong, light and packed with innovation, its a revolutionary football boot with one thing in mind: pure speed. Worn by the world's deadliest football players, every contour and feature has been engineered to the highest Aerodynamic specifications.

#4 Puma v1.08 - silver
The Puma V1.08 has become a popular boot over the past seasons with players such as David Bentley, Nicolas Anelka and Samuel Eto'o wearing V1's.

#3 adidas adiPure II - black
This is a football boot that draws in the very best design features from a long line of adidas football heritage and is the mark of a player looking for the pure timeless quality that would grace any football pitch in the world.

#2 Nike T90 Laser II - white/blue
Introducing yet another colourway of this highly popular footbal boot that bring Laser accuracy to another level. The Nike Total 90 Laser II is the new boot choice of England & Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Spain & Liverpool's Fernando Torres.

#1 adidas Predator Lite ClimaCool DB
As worn by David Beckham, become the king of the pitch in the new adidas Predator Lite Climacool DB, this top boot feature an adidas TRAXION outsole, exchangeable PowerPulse insole and an elite Predator design that takes no prisoners.

Manchester United 09/10 kit - a Historic 1909 remake

In honour of a player who helped them win their first major trophy, Manchester United will play in remake of the historic kit from 1909 next 09/10 season.

Players from United will wear home shirts, which feature a large white V-shape sash down the front.

The kit is based upon a 100-year-old design supplied by one of the club's own players, Billy Meredith, before the 1909 FA Cup Final. (As a sideline Meredith ran a sports shop and became the club's kit supplier. For the Wembley final with Bristol City, both sides had to change from their usual red shirts.)

Billy Meredith's trademark was a toothpick he chewed while playing; he believed it assisted his concentration. He originally used chewing tobacco, however the cleaners refused to wash the spit off his shirts!

United's kit manufacturer Nike have been asked to rework Meredith's shirt - using high-tech materials rather than heavyweight cotton and with a white sash on a red shirt instead of 1909's red-on-white.

A Man Utd insider said: "The club felt bringing back this old kit was the perfect way for United to mark 100 years of success."

source

Kaka Signs For Manchester City - Arabian Reports

Kaka has been linked with the richest club in the world for several months now, but the speculation of a possible move really began to heat up earlier this week.

'Arabian Business' now claim that a deal has been sealed, which will see Manchester City pay Milan around €112 million, while Kaka will earn €380,000 per week.

This will smash Zinedine Zidane's transfer fee record from 2001 when he moved to Real Madrid from Juventus for €76m. Kaka also becomes the highest paid player in football history.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour is said to have told friends at 1500 CET that Kaka has signed for Manchester City, although there has been no official confirmation from the club, or from Milan for that matter.

Mansour took over the reigns at Eastlands in September, but he funded the €37m signing of Kaka's Brazilian compatriot Robinho on August 31 summer deadline day.

The Press Association claims that sources within Manchester City have denied that a deal has been done, although no official statement has been made.

Anthony Sormani

source
pic : (AFP/File/Damien Meyer)

Calderon confirms resignation as Real president

MADRID, Jan 16 (Reuters) - An emotional Ramon Calderon confirmed media reports that he had resigned as president of Spanish champions Real Madrid in a news conference at the Bernabeu on Friday.

Calderon, who was elected to the post in 2006, had been under pressure to go since Marca newspaper published allegations earlier this week of irregularities at the club's general assembly last month.

"Against the recommendations of my board I have decided to step down from the presidency," Calderon said.

"I have committed errors but not irregularities. I go with my head held high."

The 57-year-old lawyer will be replaced by Vicente Boluda, who takes charge until a presidential election can be held in the close season.

With tears in his eyes and struggling to hold his emotions in check, Calderon read from a pre-prepared speech.

"I am not a coward and have nothing to hide," he said. "I hope that by offering up my head my going will help placate the wider Real Madrid public.

"They have been convulsed by daily stories put together and sent out from the media that show absolute contempt for all known moral codes."

He defended his record at the helm which included two consecutive league titles, and two trophies with the basketball section, and reiterated that he knew nothing about the events that had occurred at last month's assembly.

The allegations in Marca said unauthorised persons had gained access to the club's assembly on Dec. 7 and their presence had helped to swing votes on key issues in favour of the management.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Calderon said two Real officials involved in organising the assembly had resigned and he would probably not stand for re-election when his four-year mandate ended in 2010.

Spanish media reported on Friday that three club delegates who attended the general assembly had started legal proceedings to have the agreements passed at the event annulled in the light of recent developments.

source

AP Photo/Paul White

We move forward with or without Kaka - Ancelotti

MILAN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - AC Milan will move forward whether they keep hold of Kaka or not, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

Manchester City are talking with Milan about a possible deal and media reports say the Premier League club have bid at least 100 million euros ($133 million) for the Brazilian.

"Talks are happening. I hope I can coach him for the long term. But if he leaves our objectives do not change," Ancelotti told a news conference. "Our squad remains competitive even if we must lose a great player."

The playmaker said earlier this week he wanted to "grow old" at Milan but City have sounded confident that they can persuade the Serie A club to sell the 26-year-old.

"It is a decision that will have to be made by the club together with the player," Ancelotti added.

"The club is considering the offer that has been presented. It is normal that great importance is attached to him given the role he has at Milan."

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani met City officials to discuss Kaka's future on Tuesday and media speculation has since gone into overdrive despite no outcome to the talks.

City, in the bottom of half of the Premier League and with very limited pedigree in England let alone Europe, are the richest club in the world after being taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Ancelotti said they deserved to bid for the world's top players as much as anyone else.

"You couldn't imagine it 20 years ago. Big investors are entering football and therefore it is normal and correct to consider (the bid)," he said.

Milan finished fifth in Serie A last season meaning Kaka, signed from Sao Paulo in 2003, is not playing in the Champions League this term having inspired the Rossoneri to the trophy in 2007.

"We must get back into the Champions League and win the UEFA Cup," added Ancelotti, whose side are third in Serie A.

source

Calderon quits as Real Madrid president

MADRID, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Ramon Calderon resigned as president of Spanish champions Real Madrid on Friday after an emergency board meeting at the Bernabeu, Spanish media have reported.

Calderon, who has held the post since 2006, has been under pressure to go since Marca newspaper published allegations earlier this week of irregularities at the club's general assembly last month.

No one was available for comment from the club but a news conference has been called for 1700GMT at the Bernabeu, when Calderon will speak to the media, a statement said on the club's website (www.realmadrid.com).

The 57-year-old, who has denied any wrongdoing, was close to resigning on Thursday night under pressure from several members of the Real management board, reports said.

It is predicted that Vicente Boluda, one of the club's vice presidents, will take the helm until new elections can be called.

The allegations in Marca this week said unauthorised persons had gained access to the club's assembly on Dec. 7 and their presence had helped swing votes on key issues in favour of the management.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Calderon said two Real officials involved in organising the assembly had resigned and he would probably not stand for re-election when his four-year mandate ended in 2010.

He ruled out stepping down immediately and insisted neither he nor any other member of the management board were involved in any irregularities.

source

Manucho Loan Deal Sealed

Hull City have completed the signing of Manchester United striker Manucho on loan for the rest of the season.

Manucho goes straight into the squad for Saturday's clash with Arsenal after all the relevant paperwork was completed ahead of the midday deadline and he has been allocated squad number 28.

Manucho, full name Mateus Alberto Contreiras Goncalves, joined United in December 2007 following a successful trial with the Old Trafford club.

The 25-year-old, who had previously played for Petro Atletico in his native Angola and scored 34 goals in 78 appearances, spent the latter weeks of the 2007/08 campaign on loan with Greek club Panathinaikos and netted four times in seven games.

Source

new ADIDAS Beckham's Predator

The new Adidas boots of David Beckham of AC Milan are seen during a training session during the AC Milan Winter Training Camp at the Al Nasr Sports Club on January 4, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.