Messi scores in Argentina victory

Striker Lionel Messi starred for Argentina in their opening Olympic victory after his club Barcelona cleared him to play.

The 21-year-old put the champions ahead and created another goal in the 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast on Thursday.

A day earlier, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) ruled that Barcelona, Schalke and Werder Bremen could recall their players from the Games.

But as the tournament began, all three were included in their national sides.

Barcelona had not officially announced any decision on Messi’s participation before Argentina’s match kicked off.

Officials later confirmed they would not be recalling the player after he expressed his desire to remain at the Games during talks with the club late on Wednesday.

“He can stay at the Olympics through to the final,” said Barcelona spokesman Jose Miguel Teres.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola added: “The best thing is for him is to enjoy (the Olympics), that he should play there. It’s our obligation and it is what we are going to do so that he can enjoy the games and come back happy.”

Man Utd expect long Ronaldo stay

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo would prefer to extend his stay at the club rather than join Real Madrid.

After a summer saga in which the 23-year-old was continually linked with the Spanish giants, Ronaldo has publicly committed himself to United.

“Real know they are dealing with a different animal now,” said Ferguson.

“As he gets older, he’ll appreciate being here more. The longer players stay, they don’t want to leave.”

Ronaldo, who is currently sidelined through injury, has a contract running until 2012 at Old Trafford but Ferguson said he would like to extend the deal.

“Cristiano will now settle down and enjoy his career here,” said Ferguson.

“He has four years left on his contract and hopefully, at some point, we would like to extend it. That’s where we are.

“I can’t deny it was an important issue to keep him here. There are very few players who have left me against my will and it is unusual for anybody to want to leave United.

“I think Cristiano realises that. We had a good meeting in Portugal that clarified a lot of things.

Ronaldo saga over, says Ferguson

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga is now “closed” and the winger will remain at the club.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon hinted the Spanish side may have ended their pursuit of the winger.

Real have been linked with Ronaldo throughout the summer, but signed Rafael van der Vaart on Tuesday.

“Van der Vaart is the first and possibly the only signing of the summer for Real Madrid,” Calderon said.

The 25-year-old signing from Hamburg was unveiled at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday and Calderon said he was unlikely to further add to his squad.

Calderon has repeatedly said he would like to sign Ronaldo, but his latest comments come amid signs that Real’s bid to recruit the Portugal international have stalled due to United’s refusal to sell the 23-year-old.

Ronaldo is under contract at Old Trafford until 2012 but has been heavily linked with a move to Madrid and the player appeared to be keen on a move.

But Ferguson has remained adamant that Ronaldo would stay at Old Trafford and has now moved to end the saga.

Adebayor vows to stay at Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor insists he wants to stay at Arsenal and intends to sign a new contract at the Emirates.

The 24-year-old Togo striker, who scored 30 goals in 48 games last season, has been heavily linked with moves to AC Milan and Barcelona.

“Now I can tell everyone that, yes, I will sign a contract,” Adebayor told the club’s official website.

“I never told anyone I would be leaving this club, never ever. I’m very happy we’ve found a solution.”

Adebayor added: “I have three years left on my contract and I’m putting two or three years more, so I’m very happy being part of this family.”

He joined the Gunners from Monaco in January 2006, but his loyalty to the club had been in question after his comments that “a lot of teams want me to play for them” earlier this summer.

But Adebayor said his his relationship with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has not been affected by the speculation over his future.

“When we started talking about my contract I never told him I’d be leaving this club and he knew my desire,” said Adebayor.

Clubs lining up for Eto’o swoop

Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain says Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is attracting interest from “four or five big clubs”.

Eto’o had been told by Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola he is not in his plans.

Even though there are no official offers as yet, Eto’o needs to agree terms with a club before a deal can be done.

“Samuel has to have an agreement, after this we will start negotiations. He has to be happy first,” Begiristain said.

“We are waiting for this agreement. When we know we’ll know what his situation is, we will know what he can give to us.”

When asked specifically if sides from the English Premier League were interested, Begiristain replied: “Of course big clubs are interested. But this is not important. First he needs to have an agreement with a club.

“If he moves, it’ll be to a big club, of course. There are four or five clubs interested.”

The 27-year-old is not part of Guardiola’s plans as wholesale changes are carried out at Barca following the Catalan club’s second successive trophyless season.

On Thursday Barca president Joan Laporta revealed talks had taken place with Inter Milan and AC Milan over Eto’o, but insisted no offer had been made for the forward.

source:bbcsports

Arshavin move to Spurs in doubt

Andrei Arshavin’s future remains unclear following confusion over a reported bid made by Tottenham.

It is understood that Zenit St Petersburg rejected a bid from Spurs while his agent was hopeful Arshavin would be at White Hart Lane soon.

However, a source close to Tottenham said a bid had never been made.

It is also understood that the 27-year-old is one of many players, including Roman Pavlyuchenko, that the north London club are looking at.

Tottenham are believed to have had initial talks with the £15m-rated Spartak Moscow striker Pavlyuchenko last week, although no deal had been agreed.

On Thursday, Arshavin’s agent Dennis Lachter said he was confident the striker would be playing for Juande Ramos’ side.

“It is my prediction that Arshavin is going to be a Tottenham player this season,” Denis Lachter told BBC Radio Five Live on Thursday.

“He just rejected a huge, huge offer to renew his contract for another five years. He would like to leave for the Premier League.”

In July, Arshavin’s hopes of a dream move to Barcelona collapsed after the Catalan side also failed to meet Zenit’s valuation for their prize asset.

Arshavin was suspended for Russia’s opening two games at Euro 2008, but on his return helped the national team to the semi-finals, scoring two goals en route, while 26-year-old Pavlyuchenko scored three times.

source:bbcsports