A round-up of other soccer news in brief
Agent's view on Vidic's future concerns United
MANCHESTER United’s growing concern about Nemanja Vidic’s intentions have been exacerbated by the player’s agent stating yesterday that the Serb’s “dream” is to play in Spain.
It is the same word that Cristiano Ronaldo used in terms of moving to Real Madrid and there is a growing sense of unease about whether the defender is as committed to the club as he used to be.
Vidic has been a target for Barcelona this summer, with the European Cup winners acting on information that he would be willing to leave English football.
The 27-year-old has tried to play down those reports but the stories have persisted that he wants a new challenge and that his wife is not happy in Manchester.
His agent, Paolo Fabbri, has now spoken to the Catalan radio station RAC1 about the defender’s desire to move to Camp Nou, though he also acknowledged that United would try to repel any advances after a summer in which they have already lost Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
“Vidic would be delighted to play at Barcelona as his dream is to go to the Spanish league,” Fabbri said. “We have to analyse the situation but, being realistic, things are complicated at the moment. The team have just lost Ronaldo and Tevez and they do not want to lose another important piece of their starting XI once again.”
As well as commanding interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, Vidic has also reportedly had some form of contact with Milan.
Celtic confirm date with Cork City
CELTIC HAVE confirmed that they will visit Turner’s Cross for their fundraising friendly against Cork City on September 9th.
“We are very pleased to be visiting Cork, and we hope that the friendly match will assist Cork City in raising funds to secure the future of the club,” said Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell in a statement issued yesterday. “Celtic Football Club has always had great support from Cork.
“While a number of the squad will be on international duty and unable to take part in the match,” he added, “we will be sending as strong a squad as possible and will do all we can to make the match an occasion to remember.”
Glentoran sign winger Gillespie
GLENTORAN yesterday announced they had signed Northern Ireland international and former Manchester United winger Keith Gillespie (pictured).
The 34-year-old winger left Bradford in the summer after a short-term deal following his release from Sheffield United.
It is understood he has agreed a 12-month contract with Glentoran who won the Irish League last season.
Cameroon defender Andre Bikey has joined Burnley from Reading on a three-year contract, the Turf Moor club have confirmed.
Keane's Ipswich still without a win
CRYSTAL PALACE produced a fine display to beat Ipswich 3-1 at Portman Road last night and leave Roy Keane’s charges without a win after three games of the English Championship season.
Two goals from Darren Ambrose and another from Neil Danns left Ipswich dazed and outplayed.
Ambrose put Palace in front with his first league goal since March 2008 just after half-time and doubled their lead moments later with a stunning strike.
Ipswich had a lifeline when Dubliner Owen Garvan’s cross found Republic of Ireland international Alex Bruce, who headed in but Ambrose crossed for Danns to seal victory for Palace.
The result gave Palace their first league win of the season and left Ipswich manager Keane with plenty to ponder.
IPSWICH: Richard Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Delaney, Walters, Healy (Garvan 52), Trotter, Martin (Quinn 72), Priskin (Stead 52), Wickham. Subs Not Used: Supple, David Wright, Colback, Smith. Goals: Bruce 62.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni, Hill, McCarthy, Fonte, Butterfield, N'Diaye, Derry, Danns, Lee, Sears, Ambrose. Subs Not Used: Flahavan, Clyne, Carle, Moses, Scannell, Lawrence, Ertl. Booked: Hill.
Goals: Ambrose 49, 50, Danns 69.
Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).
Duff completes move to Fulham
DAMIEN Duff is convinced he has joined a club going places after signing a three-year deal at Fulham.
The fee with Newcastle for the 30-year-old Dubliner has not been disclosed, but is believed to be in the region of €4.7 million as the north-east club come to terms with the cost of relegation to the English Championship.
Having made his breakthrough under current Fulham manager Roy Hodgson when they were both at Blackburn, Republic of Ireland winger Duff believes Fulham have a squad capable of building on last season’s seventh-place finish which secured a crack at the new Europa League.
“I am happy that my move to Fulham has been completed and look forward to joining in with the rest of the squad’s training programme,” said Duff, who had joined Newcastle from Chelsea during the summer of 2006.
“Fulham had a fantastic season last year and I know having spoken to the manager in recent days that the club’s ambitions remain high.”
