Jock said:CELTIC HATTY
Can you imagine how many more goals he would have scored if he didn't still have the hanger in his jersey…?
Liverpool have been given permission by Benfica to make a new bid for Portugal star Simao Sabrosa. (Daily Mirror)
Atletico Madrid have put a £41.4m price tag on striker Fernando Torres, with AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle all tracking him. (The Sun)
Manchester United number two Carlos Queiroz will be given the task of convincing his Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Old Trafford. (The Sun)
Capello eyes Van Nistelrooy switch
New Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello could be thinking over a move for Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Capello led Juventus to the last two Scudettos but ended his two-year reign last week with the Turin giants facing possible relegation due to match-fixing.
The Italian coach is evaluating his squad and Real president Ramon Calderon said on the club's official website: 'It seems as though Fabio likes Van Nistelrooy.
'He could complement Ronaldo in playing together.'
One hole to fill is being left by French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who has retired.
'There is enough (money) for us to make six or seven reinforcements and they will be here before August 3,' Calderon said.
Some of Juventus' high-profile players may be available should the Bianconeri, as expected, be demoted as punishment in the Serie A scandal.
'I wouldn't like for Juventus to be relegated,' Calderon said. 'We don't need for something bad to happen in order to make signings.
'The signings that Capello has asked for are possible.
'Of course I would like for Cesc (Fabregas) to be one of our signings. We had an agreement with the player during the presidential elections, but we have yet to sit down with Arsenal and negotiate.
'With regards to Kaka, Capello has told me he is an exceptional player. He (Kaka) wanted to come three months ago when I was a club executive, but now we must talk to AC Milan.'
One player who could be on his way out of the Bernabeu is long-serving fullback Roberto Carlos.
'Roberto Carlos has the idea of leaving and he has already informed the sporting director (Predrag Mijatovic),' Calderon added.
'If Roberto leaves, Fabio Capello has asked me for a replacement.'
Ronaldo: Good chance I could stay with Man Utd
tribalfooball.com - July 12, 2006
Cristiano Ronaldo has opened the door to staying with Manchester United.
The wing ace, who has declared he wants to join Real Madrid, said in Portugal this morning: "There are possibilities of continuing with Manchester United, but also there are other possibilities.
"Everything is open. If I had to leave Manchester United, I do not want to do it on bad terms, because it is a club that contributed to my human and professional development.
"For now, I want to forget about football. It's most important to rest and enjoy my return to Madeira."
B]Van Nistelrooy wants to leave United, says Ferguson[/B]
LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) -- Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has asked to leave Manchester United, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
"There may be some interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich," the BBC Web site quoted Ferguson as saying after arriving in Durban for their South African pre-season tour.
"I am waiting for Manchester United chief executive David Gill to fill me in but Ruud van Nistelrooy has asked to leave the club."
The 30-year-old Dutchman, who disappointed at the World Cup and was dropped for the second-round defeat by Portugal, lost his place to Louis Saha in the United lineup towards the end of last Premier League season.
Real Madrid sign Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy
MADRID, July 27 (Reuters) - Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will join Real Madrid from Manchester United on a three-year contract, the Primera Liga club said on Thursday.
The deal is reported by Spanish media to be worth around 15 million euros ($19.12 million).
'Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Manchester United for the signing of Ruud van Nistelrooy,' the Spanish club said in a statement.
'The player will take a medical on Friday morning and will be presented in the afternoon at 1700 GMT in the Bernabeu.'
The 30-year-old scored 150 goals for United since joining in 2001 for a then British record fee of £19 million ($35.39 million).
He is Real's third signing under new president Ramon Calderon following on from Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro and Brazil midfielder Emerson, and will link up with former Manchester United team mate David Beckham.
Van Nistelrooy put in a transfer request two weeks ago and Real and Bayern Munich had been competing to secure his services for next season.
The Dutchman fell out of favour at United in the latter part of last season as manager Alex Ferguson increasingly looked to Louis Saha to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.
He was an unused substitute in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan in the League Cup final in February and stormed out of Old Trafford when he was left out of their final league match of the season against Charlton Athletic in May.
Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 28 goals in 54 games for Netherlands, found the net just once at the recent World Cup and was left on the bench by Dutch coach Marco van Basten during their second-round defeat against Portugal.
The Dutchman will face stiff competition from Raul, Robinho, Julio Baptista, Antonio Cassano and Ronaldo for a place in the Real attack, although his arrival is likely to hasten the departure of at least one of the forwards.
Real are in the process of trying to put together a team under new coach Fabio Capello which will help them win their first trophy in four seasons.
Van Nistelrooy started his career with Dutch sides Den Bosch and Heerenveen before joining PSV Eindhoven in 1998 where he scored an impressive 62 goals from 67 appearances.
United manager Ferguson continued with his bid to bring Van Nistelrooy to the club even after the striker failed a medical in April 2000 and then sustained a serious cruciate knee ligament injury while training with PSV a few days later.
He finally arrived in 2001 and repaid Ferguson's faith in him by scoring 36 goals in all competitions in his debut season.
He was the Premier League's leading scorer with 25 goals when United won the championship in 2003 and was also named PFA Player of the Year.
He has scored 20 goals or more in four of his five seasons at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy is United's all-time top scorer in Europe, having surpassed Denis Law's long-standing record in September 2004 and is the fourth highest scorer in the European Cup, level on 47 goals with Portuguese great Eusebio