http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football..._signing_.aspx

Arsenal star vows to put rivalry aside and help new Chelsea signing

Author: Ben Moss
Posted on: 06 July 2009 - 15:40
Category: Football
Comments: 2 Go...

Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin will disregard his club’s rivalry with Chelsea in order to help his Russian teammate Yuri Zhirkov settle in to life in the Premier League.

Arshavin made a similar move to Zhirkov back in January, when he moved to Arsenal having spent his whole career in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg, and he has vowed to help Zhirkov adjust to his new surroundings.

Arshavin said: “I'll do everything possible to help him adapt.”

The diminutive Russian also backed Zhirkov to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “All in all there are no weak players in Chelsea. But Zhirkov is capable of competing with any of the Blues.”

“Besides, the coach can always modify the formation so that all of the best players would fit in.”

One For Lauren!

Chamakh will only sign for Arsenal says Bordeaux president

Bordeaux have denied that they have received any offers from Sunderland for Marouane Chamakh, and in fact the president was quite insulting about their link!

A report in the Times said: Jean-Louis Triaud, the Bordeaux president, has denied that the French champions have received a £13 million offer from Sunderland for Marouane Chamakh. The Morocco forward has one year left on his contract and is wanted by Arsenal, should Emmanuel Adebayor leave.

“We never received an offer,” Triaud said. “What the ******* would he do at Sunderland? You have heard him say he will only sign for a big English club. I don’t want to insult Sunderland, but I don’t even know where they finished last season.”

What do Sunderland fans think of that!

http://www.footylatest.com/chamakh-w...president/7093

Football thread most vote for glorious sweden

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/...1e8a5e8e_o.jpg

80,000 Real Madrid fans waiting for Ronaldo to show.. Live on Sky Sports News soon!

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than willingly watch that idiot.

He's a prick

Said that la liga is superior to The premier league

I must watch! I need to watch... I will watch.

I might run out and buy a Real Madrid shirt! :shocked:

Henrick Larsson's sister and girlfriend-

http://i44.tinypic.com/24q4voy.jpg

Ronaldo live at 8pm on Sky Sports News!

LIVE! :shocked:

955 hours till kick off! :bouncy:

What a c u next tuesday.

Great sportsmenship you piece of **** lmao. Learn how to be a professional then maybe we'll listen to your advice.

Hot pics in this page..

Football! Women! Beer! Cars!

Everything the Brotherhood stands for... Pukka.

Ronaldo also live on BBC News 24.

Haha he is actually no. 9! No wonder in Dec 08 he copyrighted "CR9"

Number 9 is the best! Anything with a 9 is good....

LOL!

I didnt even know i wrote that done it to quick without reading through it.

That guys a moron, if hes president of the best team in France! (due to winning the league last season)...

Thats a stupid thing to say.

Chamakh isnt Arsenal first team standard!

Gourcuff could of been the new zidane but then he moved to bordeaux permanently? :S.

I think Man Utd will make a big signing next month... Big!

Cristiano Ronaldo fulfilled a "childhood dream" as he was unveiled as a Real Madrid player in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The Portuguese forward, who has been handed the number nine jersey, was greeted by Alfredo di Stefano - considered the greatest player to have worn that particular shirt - Eusebio and Florentino Perez, the club president whose re-election prompted Ronaldo's £80million signing from Manchester United.

"I am just so happy to be here," he said to a rapturous reception from the gathered thousands.

"For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.

"I didn't expect a jam-packed stadium - this is truly impressive."

Perez claimed Monday night's events "might not have a precedent". "We are very satisfied to know that you made the firm decision to play for Real Madrid," Perez said.

He told Ronaldo what to expect from his new adoring fans, adding: "They will ask of you the very best, but will also give you their all."

Ronaldo is the third player to be unveiled by Madrid since Perez returned to the presidency at the start of June, following in the footsteps of Kaka and Raul Albiol.

Brazil playmaker Kaka was a reported £56million signing from AC Milan, while Spain centre-back Albiol was brought in from Valencia for a fee believed to be around £13million.

Madrid have also agreed a deal with Lyon for their striker Karim Benzema for an initial fee of £30million, a transfer that takes the Spanish giants' summer spending close to the £200million mark.

Monday night's attendance at the Bernabeu swamped the estimated 55,000 that watched Kaka's unveiling here last Tuesday, and is believed to be the biggest turn-out for a presentation since a reported 75,000 saw the arrival of Diego Maradona at Napoli from Barcelona in 1984.

Earlier on Monday, Ronaldo, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, successfully completed his medical with Madrid after landing in the Spanish capital just after midday.

Carlos Diez, Real Madrid's medical chief, told realmadrid.com: "(Ronaldo) is in perfect condition and very eager to start the season as soon as possible."

Ronaldo had already undergone initial medical tests with the Spanish giants while on holiday in Portugal last month, which the player claimed at the time had gone "perfectly".

Diez added: "He has an extraordinary cardiac and lung capacity. We have complemented everything that we already did in Portugal and done all the specific tests.

"Now we will be able to start working using an individual plan in order to improve his performance.

"For him (Ronaldo), it's a dream, and this dream starts to convert into reality from today."

Speaking at a press conference after his presentation, Ronaldo insisted that Real were "the closest club to my heart" - but admitted it was a wrench to leave England.

"Thank you to all (United) supporters, the boss (Sir Alex Ferguson), friends and team-mates - I've been there six years and have friends there. But people respect my decision," he said.

"The great challenge now, and dream, is to play at Real Madrid but I'm going to miss many things in Manchester."

The forward claimed he left Old Trafford, and Ferguson, on friendly terms.

"It was good," he said of his departure. "My relationship with him was always good and will stay that way forever.

"I went to Manchester, spoke to them and everything was fine. Life goes on."

Ronaldo also reiterated his belief that he was worth the vast sum paid for his services.

"I have always thought that the best clubs, to have the best players, have to pay - so Real Madrid did a good thing. It was a correct decision.

"I understand...it is not your everyday thing to manage these figures, but I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the history of football and I'm going to prove that they paid good money for me and it was worth it."

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Anfield until 2013.

The 29-year-old Israel international, who had two years remaining on his current deal, has been handed an additional two-year stay.

Benayoun moved to Merseyside from West Ham in July 2007 and made 42 appearances last season, scoring nine goals.

He told the club's official website: "I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here.

"Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware."

Benayoun becomes the fifth member of Rafa Benitez's squad to pledge his long-term future to the club following Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt.

Benitez said: "You know that our idea was to extend the contracts of some players and Yossi was one of these players.

"He has been really good for us over the last year, scoring crucial goals and getting assists, so we wanted to keep him and I'm really pleased with the extension."

AC Milan have confirmed they have tabled bids for Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano.

The Rossoneri have funds to bolster their squad this summer following Kaka's £59million switch to Real Madrid.

A striker is high on Leonardo's summer shopping list and they have now confirmed that offers have been made for both Huntelaar and Fabiano.

Huntelaar only joined the Spanish giants in January, but their unprecedented summer shopping spree means he is now surplus to requirements.

Milan have also been linked with a move for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, although vice-president Adriano Galliani believes his wage demands are too high.

"Milan have made offers for Huntelaar and Fabiano, but it's a difficult market because Real Madrid's spending has meant prices have doubled since last year," confirmed Galliani.

"Eto'o's an important player, but he's asking for too much money. We don't hold much hope of reaching a deal. This is a time to maintain balance."

Huntelaar definitely needs to go from Real. You know they're a super team when the likes of him are considered "surplus" though haha.

Huntelaar to united i reckon

fergie rates him

Evict Kris!

Today i've learnt alot about football from David, Ben and Jayson.