The Football 411
Roberto Mancini wants Tevez gone as soon as possible. Talks with AC Milan and Tevez’s representative have been authorised by City but no direct club-on-club talks have been held. Corinthians are also interested so I guess it depends who has the biggest cheque book, but one thing is for sure, Tevez will not be playing in City colours again soon.
Dimitar Berbatov will miss Manchester United’s crucial Champions League tie against Basel after failing to recover from an ankle injury, although if he been selected to play then one would have to question Sir Alex’s committment, as he normally only picks Berbatov when he has no interest in the result and the result against Basel is critical.
After locking Alex and Anelka out of the Stamford Bridge parking lot, Andre Villas-Boas says that they are not being treated like “criminals” The duo have requested a transfer as they are both sick of only being picked every now and again.
Roberto Mancini has no plans to sell Kolo Toure in January after insisting he has no problem with the Manchester City defender who has started only one Premier League game this season and the Ivory Coast international has been quoted in a French magazine claiming he feels he is being victimised for participating in the African Cup of Nations two years ago. Hello! there is another one starting next month, so your punishment will never end!
The defender has indicatecd that he would like to join PSG in the new year – watch this space.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has revealed that he would have been close to the sack if his side had lost to Sunderland on Sunday.
McCarthy was facing a 10th defeat in 13 games when Kieran Richardson gave the Black Cats the lead but the hosts fought back to claim a 2-1 win at Molineux.
McCarthy’s future has not been publicly discussed by the Wolves hierarchy but it had been suggested that they would have a decision to make if their side suffered another defeat. – Tell me I was wrong!
Bayern Munich duo Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos will sit out the final UEFA Champions League group game against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Former Chelsea winger Robben who has been struggling with a pelvic injury this season, will miss the game at Eastlands due to flu.
German international Kroos has also been laid low by flu and has stayed behind in Bavaria to recuperate ahead of the weekend’s Bundesliga game against Stuttgart.
Through to the knock-out stage already, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm is adamant the Bundesliga leaders would be doing everything possible to claim all three points against City.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down rumours that midfielder Tomas Rosicky could leave the club during the January transfer window.
The 31-year-old Czech has been linked with moves abroad as he struggles to hold down a regular place in the Gunners’ first team. — David Blood, SportsCentral
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