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Rio: I´m no yob
Rio Ferdinand last night insisted he is no bar-room brawler. Manchester United´s £30million defender was accused of manhandling two members of staff at a five-star hotel in La Manga. It followed a game of pool at 3.30am on the first day of England´s sunshine break in Spain. Ferdinand said: " I cannot believe the fuss. It was all a misunderstanding and settled straight away."
Shaun Custis, The Sun
Sven: I trust my stars
Sven Goran Eriksson last night refused to clamp down on his England players as he insisted they had never abused his trust. England´s preparations for tomorrow´s friendly with Serbia and Montenegro were overshadowed by allegations that Rio Ferdinand and John Terry attacked hotel staff during their La Manga sunshine break. But as the FA " strongly refuted" any claims of a " brawl" involving the two defenders, Eriksson made clear that he saw no reason to impose a rigid disciplinary code. Ferdinand was accused of grabbing a hotel maintenance man in a bearhug when he refused to fix a pool table in the early hours of the morning. The FA were said to have apologised over the incident. Ferdinand said: " It has been taken out of proportion."
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror
Sven calls last orders on England
It´s a measure of the near-impeccable behaviour of the England squad on their La Manga break that even the most minor misdemeanour prompted lurid headlines. While Rio Ferdinand and John Terry may care to explain just what they were doing playing pool at 3.30 in the morning, when both were supposed to be recovering from injuries, we are hardly talking about an international incident. Given the hyped-up stories that spoke of more " England disgrace," you might have imagined that Sven Goran Eriksson´s team had been unmasked as a bunch of street muggers who indulge in grievous bodily harm in their spare time after blowing every penny they own on wine, women and song. But nothing could be further from the truth, and while Eriksson´s determination to stand by his players may not always be palatable to the moralists of Middle England, the reality is that this squad are pussycats compared to their predecessors.
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror
Sven: Beckham to stay skipper
Davie Beckham has been assured he will not lose the England captaincy if he moves abroad. England boss Sven Goran Eriksson insists Becks will remain his main man, whether he is playing in the Premiership or in Spain or Italy next season. And as the Manchester United midfielder contemplated Barcelona´s bid to snatch him, Eriksson declared: " It doesn´t matter where he plays, he won´t become worse as a footballer if he moves on." Joan Laporta, who is standing for election as Barcelona president, insists he has a £30million agreement with United to take Beckham to the Nou Camp. And even the Spanish giants´ failure to qualify for Europe next season would not be a stumbling block. Eriksson added: " Of course it is important for my players to be in the Champions League but I´m sure a team like Barcelona will only be out for one year. Being out of the Champions League for a year would not be a problem for Beckham. Absolutely not. But a couple of weeks ago everyone was saying he´s going to Real Madrid. Now it´s Barcelona. And I´m sure he´ll be with Milan, Inter and Juventus in the next few weeks. And then again, he might stay with Manchester United."
Mark Irwin, The Sun
Man Utd better than Milan
Sven Goran Eriksson yawned through the Champions League final and said: " Nobody can convince me Milan and Juventus are better than Arsenal and Manchester United." The England boss was underwhelmed by last week´s no-score bore between the Italian giants, settled in AC´s favour by a penalty shootout. And he refuses to accept that the Premiership is in any way inferior to the game in Spain or Italy. Only one English team has reached the European Cup final in 18 years yet Eriksson said: " The only reason we don´t have more teams there is because we play too much football. We are the only country in Europe where teams can play on a Saturday and again on a Monday night. Ee play at Christmas, New Year and Easter because it is traditional but the risk of injury becomes bigger. I spoke to people in Italy and they have only one player missing from their squad through injury. We have nine, as well as David Beckham, who is suspended."
Mark Irwin, The Sun
Fergie thanks Arsene
Alex Ferguson wants more help from Arsene Wenger next season to fire Manchester United to another title. Fergie has revealed that United´s late charge to the top of the Premiership was inspired by his feud with Arsenal boss Wenger. Ferguson said: " When you´ve been in this job as long as I have, you thrive on the sort of challenge Arsene provides. I was really up for it. Maybe the confidence Arsenal were showing got my hackles up and the old adrenaline flowing. I enjoyed the battle. I was back to being what Alex Ferguson is really all about as a manager."
Sports Reporter, The Sun
Posh and Becks take Hollywood
Glitzy Posh and Becks took Hollywood by storm yesterday as they outshone all other stars at the MTV Movie Awards. They wore matching white designer outfits and Becks was dripping in £75,000-worth of rap-style jewellery - including two crucifixes. He wore a silky white Dolce & Gabbana suit while Posh squeezed into a £15,000 corset-style gown by the same Italian designer. Afterwards big showbiz names lined up to pay tribute to England skipper David Beckham and singer wife Victoria - who hopes to break into movies. Actor Samuel L Jackson said: “He’s the best footballer in the world and she’s really beautiful.” Singer Beyonce said: “The guy’s my hero. I think he’s absolutely gorgeous. Everyone is smitten with Becks and Posh.” Movie legend Harrison Ford - there with girlfriend Calista Flockhart - said: “They’re a nice couple and he’s so talented.”
Antonella Lazzeri, The Sun
Ron: I owe Silva
Brazilian superstar Ronaldino has set his heart on a move to Manchester United this summer - and Arsenal´s Gilberto Silva is partly responsible. The 23-year-old Paris St Germain striker has revealed how close pal Gilberto has convinced him the Premiership is the place to be. " He told me he was loving his football and that has made me want the same thing," he said.
Sports staff, The Sun
Carry on, Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson, who had planned to retire a year ago, says he is in great shape and could carry on in the job for many more years. Manchester United´s boss, 61, won the Premiership title in the first season of his two-year extension and says: " This year I have felt terrific. I have never felt so fit."
Sports staff, Daily Mirror
Big guns rule out move for Becks
Barcelona coach Raddy Antic is playing down reports that the clubs will sign United´s England captain David Beckham. It has been reported a £30 million deal for Beckham is all but done but Antic said: " So far they are rumours and nothing else." European champions AC Milan also ruled out a move for Beckham, saying he was too expensive.
Steve Rogers, Daily Mirror
Champs Milan in the race
AC Milan last night announced their intention to bid for David Beckham and scupper moves by Barcelona. Milan´s chief executive Adriano Galliani confimed: " We are very much interested in Beckham." Milan, who have already made contact with Beckham´s representatives SFX, have not agreed a transfer fee with Manchester United but are expected to offer around £25million within the next 48 hours.
Harry Harris, Daily Star
Sven´s Barca Becks boost
Sven Goran Eriksson would have no problem with David Beckham joining Barcelona, despite the Spanish giants failing to qualify for Champions League football next season. " Playing Champions League football is important but I´m sure a team like Barcelona will only be out of it for one season. I do not think that it would be a problem for Beckham."
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star
Ronaldinho can give Veron the heave-ho
Ronaldinho´s arrival at Manchester United next month will put the squeeze on Juan Sebastian Veron. Ronaldinho is a striker and Veron a midfielder, but the Brazilian´s proposed £12m move from Paris St Germain - agreed in principle but subject to complicated negotiations - intensifies competition. Veron, who missed the last two months of the season when United produced a stunning charge to the title, faces a huge challenge to convince Sir Alex Ferguson he can produce the consistency required to claim a regular spot.
Richard Tanner, Daily Express
Without cash ot Euro incentive, Barcelona bid to lure Beckham looks doomed to fail
The biggest obstacle facing Barcelona´s bid to buy David Beckham from Manchester United is that the England captain is reluctant to leave Old Trafford for the Nou Camp. While United wold be unable to resist a bid upwards of £30million, Barcelona are aware that they are not the irresistible force in the transfer market they once were. United sources admit privately they are aware of Barca´s interest but stress there has been no formal offer.
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail
Schu shows United path to diplomacy
World Champion Michael Schumacher will be cited as a good example of how to conduct public relations when shirt sponsors Vodafone start negotiations on renewing their Manchester United contract. Schumacher, despite being in the middle of showpiece Grand Prix preparations, was happy to spend 30 minutes at a reception on the mobile phone giant´s boat in Monaco harbour, meeting his sponsors´ clients and giving every impression he was delighted to be doing so. Vodafone chairman Lord MacLaurin has been especially critical, describing United´s footballers as " very precious", and Rio Ferdinand admitted being at the Grand Prix was " an eye-opener".
Charles Sale, Daily Mail
Rio revs up
Car enthusiast Rio Ferdinand has a Bentley on order and wants the latest Ferrari as well after his trip to the Monaco Grand Prix. But Rio has been banned from driving for six months until October, after clocking up speeding points. To add to his frustration, the policeman who booked him also asked for his autograph - a request which was quickly refused.
Charles Sale, Daily Mail
Nosh and Becks
They may be busy conquering America but it´s good to see David and Victoria Beckham are keeping their feet on the ground. The couple looked the embodiment of refinement at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night as they presented a gong to Colin Farrell. But it was a different story a few hours later at the actor´s dinner party over at the exclusive Chateau Marmont hotel. After one too many glasses of bubbly, wobbly Victoria felt peckish and let her Posh halo slip. For instead of feasting on a sumptuous meal at the five-star hotel, she asked her sister to get her and Becks... a McDonald´s meal. As they left around midnight, the couple met Louise, her husband Hayden and her brother Christian and munched burgers and fries on their way to rapper P Diddy´s after-show bash. Earlier in the night, Victoria, 29, and David, 28, dazzled an adoring crowd at the Shrine Auditorium. Posh read out the list of nominees for Best Transatlantic Breakthrough - including Jude Law, Orlando Bloom and Rosamund Pike - saying: " This is going to be tough." Shy Becks stood by and only uttered: " And the nominees are..." The couple, who later this week appear on Jay Leno´s hit Tonight show, left the ceremony early to head for the Marmont.
News Reporter, Daily Mirror
And finally...
Paul´s Man U Nodded
Soccer star Paul Scholes found himself in the land of Nod when he took his family to see a pageant in Manchester. The Man United ace was out with wife Claire, 27, son Aaron, three, and 23-month-old daughter Alicia when the kiddies’ favourite passed by. Noddy gave them a big thumbs-up - and Aaron grinned as Paul, 28, picked out other characters in the parade. The star had just returned from England’s training camp ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Serbia and Montenegro.
News Reporter, The Sun
