Paper round: Rooney to outdo Ronaldo

Eurosport - Sun, 08 Nov 11:21:00 2009

Barcelona are planning a bid to make Wayne Rooney the world's most expensive footballer.

wayne rooney manchester united - 0

Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford last year for Real Madrid for a then-record £80 million.

But the Spanish and European champions have apparently identified Rooney as the star of next year's World Cup in South Africa and are said to be lining up an £85 million swoop for the Manchester United striker. (News of the World)

Things are going from bad to worse for beleaguered England defender Rio Ferdinand as Manchester United seek a long-term replacement in the shape of Denmark's Simon Kjaer.

The Palermo player is currently rated as the best young centre-back in Europe and has a £6m buy-out clause in his contract.

But United could face competition from Milan and Chelsea, whose transfer ban is currently on hold pending a final decision from Court of Arbitration for Sport. (Daily Star Sunday)

Manchester United are also interested in bringing a new goalkeeper to Old Trafford, looking at both Marseille and France's Steve Mandanda (Daily Star Sunday) and CSKA Moscow stopper Igor Akinfeev. (Sunday Express)

Mark Hughes has made a not-so-secret trip to Germany in a bid to persuade Bayern Munich and France winger Franck Ribery to join him at Eastlands.

City, who are currently sixth in the Premier League and are frustrating Hughes with their inability to kill off games from a promising position, are reportedly ready to meet the £60m price tag for Ribery as well as grant him a record £200,000 per week salary, while Bayern are resigned to losing the Frenchman should they fail to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League. (News of the World)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has threatened to quit the Emirates should Russian Alisher Usmanov take control of the club.

Usmanov owns 23 per cent of Arsenal while Stan Kroenke this week took his stake to just less than the 30 per cent needed for a takeover bid.

But Wenger is reportedly set to quit London for Real Madrid should the Russian oligarch seize control, despite Usmanov saying he would be willing to inject over £100m to strengthen the squad. (News of the World)

Former Reading boss Steve Coppell is the new front runner to become the next Hull City manager as Phil Brown battles to keep hold of his job amid the Tigers rapidly worsening relegation battle. (Sunday Mirror)

Also in the running is surprise candidate Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson's son Darren with Brown's much mooted sacking set to be finalised this week. (The Mail on Sunday)

Eurosport

Comment 24 - 43 of 43

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  1. fk-off barca. i know Rooney has got united blood,so he­ can not be conviced to leave manchester united. He is­ not fk***in like ronaldo whome i liked very much at­ united but ended up betraying me.

    From asasira, on Fri 13 Nov 10:57AM

  2. rooney is a great striker. but his style does not fit­ barca's. so why is this speculation even up?­ he's united's talisman for flip sake! we­ don't need him! first robinho, now him? who's­ next, Drogba? C'mon, don't mock us. Barca owns­ the world! Visca el Barca! Visca el Catalunya!!

    From Mark Raymond L, on Mon 9 Nov 5:27PM

  3. #23,barca lack of something,i realised too as a barca­ fan,we lack the flair of samuel eto'o...the­ persistent pressure and speed of him....but we got the­ control and skill of ibra in return...if u say we need­ rooney's adaptability or whatsoever...i would say­ this bravely with less people disagree with me...we­ need a player like torres or villa more who can finish­ an attack,scores lots of goals,and constantly­ running...rooney can provide but...at barca,we have­ more than enough services from­ iniesta,xavi,messi,toure,pedro,even keita and pique has­ joined in the attack nowadays....

    From eevernc, on Mon 9 Nov 4:31PM

  4. News of the World is winding you all Man United fans. ­ Remember?! Ronaldo was persuading Rooney to join Real­ Madrid so they made up this @#$%!!!!

    From Rosa C, on Sun 8 Nov 4:52PM

  5. lol rooney to barca...please were would he fit in for a­ start???in front of messi?????,they play in the same­ area???
    wat a load of sh@t that is..

    From Donna, on Sun 8 Nov 2:24PM

  6. wtf. no way. barca wont make a move

    From Varnavas P, on Sun 8 Nov 1:37PM

  7. Andy Pandy schweinf11cker?

    If you lost a brain cell­ would the other commit suicide out of loneliness?

    From Dennis, on Sun 8 Nov 1:32PM

  8. Rooney wont leave man.utd

    From Yuri Zhirkov, on Sun 8 Nov 1:22PM

  9. u English overrated ur players. Barca can never buy­ Rooney for 85 Million Yuan talk less of Dollar or even­ Pound Sterling.

    Haba English press this is how u­ destroy ur players b4 world cup and when they get there­ the flop

    From Gee, on Sun 8 Nov 1:17PM

  10. yliggl

    From haruna, on Sun 8 Nov 1:17PM

  11. YEAH ROONEYS WORTH MORE THAN DA CHELSEA TEAM AW GO WAY­ ANY1 WOULD TAKE DROGBA B4 THAT FAT SWINE

    From FERGUSON IS A PIG, on Sun 8 Nov 1:15PM

  12. Ballack isnt dirty ...so u better shut up..

    From mani, on Sun 8 Nov 1:15PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ROONEY WANNA LAY OFF THEM BURGERS OR WHATEVER HES­ EATING FAT LITTLE GRUBER

    From FERGUSON IS A PIG, on Sun 8 Nov 1:09PM

  14. yip ronney is worth more than the chelsea team put­ together unlike dirty ballack and diving drogba

    From Paul T, on Sun 8 Nov 1:07PM

  15. little fat one footed mouthpiece

    From FERGUSON IS A PIG, on Sun 8 Nov 1:04PM

  16. manu have nothing 2worry about,there's no way­ rooney will move 2spain not in a million years

    From John, on Sun 8 Nov 1:02PM

  17. No no no! Hands-off Barca! Rooney is, and will always­ be, a UTD player

    From roy_elias10, on Sun 8 Nov 12:57PM

  18. andy(comment 7)

    u W----R

    From ericathered42, on Sun 8 Nov 12:56PM

  19. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has threatened to quit the­ Emirates should Russian Alisher Usmanov take control of­ the club.

    In which case Wenger is history..because no­ matter how good wenger is..money talks at this level ­ and if the ruski..does take over he will not care if­ wenger goes he will just buy someone else......
    and­ split up wengers team...

    From Stevo1, on Sun 8 Nov 12:51PM

  20. 21 Just like "once a blue always a blue"

    From Joe, on Sun 8 Nov 12:45PM
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