LONDON: Manchester City manager Mark Hughes insists Robinho still has a future at Eastlands despite the Brazil forward’s reported admission that he would love to join Barcelona.

Robinho is currently sidelined with an ankle injury but he fuelled speculation of a January move to the Nou Camp when hewas quoted this week saying that it would be a dream to play for Barca.

It is not the first time Robinho has been linked with a move since joining City from Real Madrid in 2008.
But Hughes said on Friday: “There is always speculation and noise surrounding Robinho. That has been the case since he came to the club.

“He is a great guy. We are not in the process of taking outstanding players out of the team. We want to complement the outstanding players at the club. We are looking to build, not dismantle.” Hughes also revealed Robinho could make his comeback in the League Cup match against Scunthorpe in two weeks.

“The only frustration he has at the moment is that he is not fit and well,” Hughes said. “I hope that will be resolved in the next week to 10 days, and he will be back on the pitch.” Meanwhile, Hughes admits he has no intention of launching another spending spree when the transfer window reopens in January.

Robinho has spoken of his interest in playing for Barcelona.

The City boss spent over £120 million (RM660 million) on the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz during the close season.

But Hughes, who attended a board meeting with the club’s Abu Dhabi based owners this week, believes there is now less investment required as a result of his initial spending.

“What people must understand is that our business in the last window was unprecedented. That will not happen again,” he said. “This notion that we will throw money at whatever player, that is not the case.

“We do not feel we need to go into the market to the extent we did in the last two windows.

“It about looking at players for areas of the team that still need strengthening. Those are the ones we will target. It will not be wholesale comings and goings, I can assure you of that.”—AFP

NST

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HANGZHOU: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said new signing Michael Owen could score 15 goals in the new season as the coach plots a record fourth consecutive Premier League crown.

Ferguson has handed Owen the legendary No 7 shirt, worn by greats such as Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Ronaldo, and believes the England international can pose a major goal threat.

Ferguson, speaking after the arrival here of the Red Devils for the final match of their Asian tour, said the former Newcastle United player had a great goalscoring pedigree and even continued to find the net in the past two years when his Newcastle side struggled.

“I hope he gets plenty,” said Ferguson, when asked how many goals Owen would score for his new side.

“If he plays 25 games for me next season I think he’ll get 15 goals,” he added.

Owen, who joined the Premier League champions on a free transfer earlier this month, has enjoyed a good start to his United career, bagging a goal in both of the Red Devils’ games in Malaysia.

But even with the departure this summer of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, competition up front remains fierce, with Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and teenaged Federico Macheda vying for starting spots.

Ferguson said he had been rotating the four strikers during the Asian tour in a bid to test his options, particularly with the arrival of Owen and the emergence of Macheda.

“We have to find out and understand the best possible combinations for those four players,” he said.

United wrap up their Asian tour with a match against Hangzhou Greentown today looking for a clean sweep after two wins in Malaysia and one in South Korea. — AFP

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Tevez will be coping with a cocktail of jet lag and shock after featuring in Argentina’s 6-1 thrashing by Bolivia in their World Cup 2010 qualifiers on Wednesday.

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Wayne Rooney is confident Carlos Tevez will pledge his long-term future to Manchester United.

The Argentina international has indicated he would be keen to stay on at Old Trafford when his loan deal expires next year.

‘I don’t see why that shouldn’t happen,’ said Rooney. ‘Carlos enjoys playing his football here.

‘He’s got his wife and child with him, who don’t live too far away from me.

‘He’s a nice quiet lad who gets on with his job and he’s enjoying his life.’

In the space of 12 months Tevez has gone from saving West Ham from relegation to winning a Barclays Premier League title with United.

He has formed a good understanding with Rooney and the respect is mutual ahead of the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow on Wednesday.

‘Carlos is a great player and works really hard for the team. I had no doubts at all we could play together,’ said the England striker.

‘From his first day in training with us, you could see the qualities he had.

‘I couldn’t wait to play alongside him. He’s been brilliant, he’s a battler, he works so hard for the team – it’s been unbelievable.’

It is a big time in Rooney’s life, both professionally and personally as he is due to marry Coleen McLoughlin next month.

Beating Chelsea and getting a winners’ medal would be a perfect early gift, he admits.

‘Yes, it will make the wedding a bit better,’ said Rooney. ‘Of course, I’ll enjoy the summer more if I win.

‘However it wouldn’t be unbearable if we lost because you have your football and your family life.

‘They are two different things and you can’t really let it upset you too much.

‘You’ve still got people there around you and you don’t want to be sitting around grumpy.

‘When I am with my family, football doesn’t get mentioned that much.’

United retained their Premier League title on the last day and edged out Chelsea by two points.

Rooney is well aware of the threat posed by their league rivals, especially when it comes to striker Didier Drogba.

‘He’s big, strong, he scores goals – left foot, right foot, headers – at times he is unplayable,’ said Rooney.

‘Sometimes it seems as if his head’s not quite right but when he’s at his best he’s an unbelievable player.

‘I hope it’s like a Premier League game, an open game and end to end.

‘If Chelsea go one up it is very difficult to get back at them as they are more defensive than us.

‘If we go one up, we’d keep trying to get a second goal. That’s the main difference between the teams.

‘To win the Champions League on the back of winning the league would be a great achievement – we just have to go there to enjoy it.’

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ESPNSoccernet

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LONDON: Manchester United will bid £30mil for Seville stars Luis Fabiano and Dani Alves this week.

Boss Alex Ferguson is wasting no time in strengthening his squad for next season and expects to strike a deal for the Brazilians.

SunSport can reveal United chief scout Martin Ferguson has watched the pair 10 times in the last three months.

Alves, 25, is seen as the long-term replacement at right-back for Gary Neville while Fabiano, 27, will add presence and goals to the attack.

The hitman, who has netted 33 times in 38 games this season, is only part-owned by the club – 65% of his registration is owned by a private investment group similar to the Carlos Tevez situation last season.

Both players are regular starters for Brazil and Alves is regarded as the best attacking rightback in the world.

Fergie’s first choice was Porto’s Jose Bosingwa but he got beaten to the Portugal player’s signature by Chelsea on Monday.

Alves was a Blues target last summer but they refused to pay his £24mil tag. – The Sun, London

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TheStar Sports

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