Ronaldo Won't Play at Copa America

Brazil's star Ronaldo will not be chosen for his nation's team for Copa America in June and July in Venezuela.

"I will observe other strikers during the competition," coach Dunga told Globo TV on Monday. "We already know what Ronaldo is capable of; he's the type of player you can count on whenever you need."




Ronaldo, who helped Brazil win the Copa America in 1997 and 1999, has yet to play for Brazil since Dunga took over the squad after its World Cup elimination last year.

The striker has regained form since moving from Spain's Real Madrid to AC Milan in February, scoring seven goals in 12 matches.

Ronaldo has played in four World Cups with Brazil, and scored 67 goals in 104 matches overall with the five-time world champion.

The South American championship will be Brazil's first official tournament with Dunga in command. The coach said he wants the squad at full strength, but some of his regulars may skip the competition, which follows the European season.

Brazil won the Copa America's last edition, in Peru.

Dunga has had a successful start with Brazil, winning seven matches, including 3-0 against South American rival Argentina and 4-0 against Chile. It drew 1-1 with Norway and lost to Portugal 2-0.

Brazil will play England on June 1 at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium in London.

Vidic and Ferdinand Take Plane to Italy

Manchester United duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have both made the trip, despite doubts over their fitness.

Vidic broke his collarbone at the end of March and Ferdinand aggravated a groin injury against Middlesbrough.

With Patrice Evra suspended, it is likely Sir Alex Ferguson will pick at least one of them, allowing Gabriel Heinze to slot into his preferred position of left-back.

Louis Saha could be on the bench, despite his recent hamstring problems, but Gary Neville misses out again.

Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes are all one booking away from a ban that would rule them out of the final, should United progress.

Milan beat United in the semi-final of the old European Cup in both 1958 and 1969.

Head-to-heads
AC Milan and Manchester United have met seven times before in European competition, United winning three and AC Milan the other four. Milan have won all three matches played in Italy, all without conceding a goal. The Italians have knocked United out each time they have met in Europe.

AC Milan have hosted English clubs on 11 previous occasions and are yet to lose, winning six and drawing five. Manchester United have visited Italy 12 times, winning just twice and losing nine times.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have all knocked AC Milan out of European competition. The last to do so over two legs was Manchester City in the 1978-79 Uefa Cup.

European history
Milan are taking part in the Champions League main competition for the 11th time. They are two times winners of the Champions League and have added these to four Champions Cup triumphs. Last season, Milan were eliminated in the CL semi-finals by eventual winners FC Barcelona. Apart from their six Champions Cups, Milan have also won the now obsolete Cup Winners' Cup twice. They have featured in a record five CL finals, since the competition was launched in 1992-93.

Manchester United are playing in their 31st season of European competition and their 12th in the Champions League. They have won all three European finals they have reached, the 1968 Champions Cup final, 1991 Cup Winners' Cup final and the 1999 Champions League final.

Current European form
AC Milan have struggled in recent home matches, losing 0-2 to Lille OSC, requiring extra time to beat Celtic 1-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich.

Manchester United have lost three of their five away matches in this season's Champions League, winning only at Benfica and Lille.

Player and disciplinary info
Patrice Evra is suspended against AC Milan. Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes (Man. Utd) and Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) will be suspended for the final if they receive another caution and their team progresses.

Maldini is AC Milan's most experienced player in the Champions League with 104 matches. Filippo Inzaghi has scored 36 Champions League goals in his career, the most by a current Milan player. Kaka and Marek Jankulovski are the only AC Milan players who have played all 11 Champions League matches this season. Kaka has scored nine of the 15 AC Milan goals in this year's Champions League, and has more goals to his name in the Champions League than in Serie A this season.

Wayne Rooney could become the first English player ever to score in four successive Champions League matches. Gary Neville is Manchester United's most experienced player in the Champions League with 98 matches. Ryan Giggs is the club's current top scorer in the competition with 23 goals. Edwin van der Sar, Michael Carrick and Rooney have played in all 11 of United's Champions League matches this season. Only Van der Sar is yet to miss a minute.

Other miscellaneous facts
AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti has reached the Champions League semis for a record fifth time. Sir Alex Ferguson has taken Manchester United to this stage for the fourth time.

This match will be Manchester United's 127th in the Champions League, equalling Real Madrid's record.

Tuesday 1 May : Today's Gossip in Newspaper

Manchester City are ready to make a £3.5m move for Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, who is currently on loan at Marseille. (Daily Mirror)

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock will be given a £20m transfer kitty in the summer if the club remain in the top flight. (Daily Mirror)

Middlesbrough are ready to spend £1m on Crewe striker Luke Varney. (Mirror). England is Fifa's top alternative to host the 2010 World Cup if South Africa is not ready to host the tournament. (The Sun)


Liverpool keeper Scott Carson could turn his loan move at Charlton into a permanent deal if the Addicks beat the drop. (Sun)

Middlesbrough will face competition from Sunderland, Bolton and Birmingham for Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis. (Daily Mail)

Wolves are chasing Stockport defender Ashley Williams. (Daily Star)

Dundee manager Alex Rae will run the rule over 16 potential signings at a specially arranged match on Tuesday. (Daily Record)

Sheffield United have joined Wigan and Aston Villa in the race to sign Hull City goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. (Daily Star)

Chelsea are furious with striker Andriy Shevchenko for pulling out of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool because of groin strain after he was told he would be on the substitutes' bench. (Various)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says Jose Mourinho's tinkering has cost Chelsea the title. (The Sun)

Jose Mourinho says Liverpool's fans should cheer him rather than jeer him. (Daily Mirror)

Ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is moving closer to gaining control at Manchester City. (Mirror)

Former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is not on Shinawatra's wish-list as City's potential new manager. (Guardian)

Bolton want £5m compensation if Allardyce becomes manager of City or Newcastle. (The Sun)

Leeds United are thought to be ready to file for administration after their relegation to League One was all but sealed on Saturday. (Guardian)

Leeds could play at South Leeds Stadium, home of rugby league club Hunslet, while they redevelop Elland Road. (Daily Mail)

West Ham could be without Carlos Tevez for their last two Premiership games after failing to reach an agreement with his owners MSI. (The Sun)

Lawrie Sanchez is resigned to losing his job as Fulham manager even if he keeps them in the Premiership. (Sun)

Celtic will fight manager Gordon Strachan's touchline ban so he can lead his team out at the Scottish Cup final. (Daily Record)

The new Wembley stadium is shown as a dilapidated wreck with knee-high grass on the pitch in new film 28 Weeks Later, which is released a week before the FA Cup final on 19 May.

Shevchenko Rule Out Chelsea

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Liverpool.

The Ukraine international has not travelled with the squad and joins Ricardo Carvalho (knee) and Michael Ballack (ankle) on the sidelines.


However, Arjen Robben is included in the squad after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from knee ligament damage.

Michael Essien will be available after a one-match European ban for the Anfield clash.

Didier Drogba is one yellow card away from missing a potential final in Athens if Chelsea can hold onto their 1-0 first-leg lead, while it is expected that Khalid Boulahrouz could come into defence.

Chelsea (from): Cech, A Cole, Makelele, Terry, Essien, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Lampard, J Cole, Drogba, Mikel, Geremi, Bridge, Robben, Wright-Phillips, Diarra, Kalou, Cudicini.

Real Madrid Want to Appeal Beckham Card

Real Madrid may appeal against the yellow card picked up by David Beckham against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The booking was Beckham's 10th of the season and means the ex-England captain is ruled out of Real's game with fellow title hopefuls Sevilla on Sunday


"If it is possible to appeal against it, we will do it," sporting director Predrag Mijatovic told Real's website.

If Beckham misses the match, he would only have a maximum of five games left for Real before joining LA Galaxy.

Beckham is moving to the United States to join the Major League Soccer side in the summer after spending four years at the Bernabeu.

Real coach Fabio Capello said: "I don't want to talk about Beckham's card, nor anything to do with the referees.

"His absence would be a very big loss. Now he is in very good form and against Athletic he had a great game."

Real are currently third in La Liga table, a point behind second-placed Sevilla and two points behind leaders Barcelona, with six games remaining.

David's Wife Victoria Beckham Breast Flash Display

Victoria and David will move to their new house in June, because of David's 250 million dollar transfer to a club named “Galaxy” there.

Victoria and David Beckham have finally found the perfect house, where they will move this summer.

The multi-million dollar palace is modern, light and spacious, and has a lot of windows, but needs some work inside, which we found out from a source close to the couple.

On Saturday, Victoria will come to Los Angeles to sign contracts for the purchase of the house, and will meet with designers who will think of how to decorate the interior. A friend of David and Victoria says that the couple is happy that they now have the perfect home for them and their sons.

The house is large enough for a five member family, but is not too big. I has enough room for family members and friends who will visit them from Great Britain.

Victoria has visited Los Angeles countless times to look at houses, but many real estate agencies raised prices knowing that the buyers were the famous couple.

Now everything is finally alright because they have found a home and school where they will enroll their sons.

For now the couple still live in Spain, and because they are moving to the USA, they are searching for a buyer for their Spanish home. Their house in London, which has popularly been called Beckingham palace is not for sale, they will stay there when they go to visit family and friends in Great Britain, reported by People.com.

Champions League : Last Trophy Chance for Milan and Liverpool

Last chance for Liverpool and AC Milan to win a trophy this season is Champions League.

To do so, they will have to reverse first-leg defeats against Chelsea and Manchester United.

It's not an impossible task - both trail by only single goals from last week's first legs and face teams missing key players.


When Milan hosts Manchester United on Wednesday it will have to turn around a 3-2 deficit.

The Red Devils have been decimated by injuries, particularly at the back. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville will miss the match through injury, while Patrice Evra is suspended.

"With the problems we have in defense I think there's every chance we will concede again in Milan, but I think we'll score as well," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "What we have to do is step up a gear, play really well, and make sure we carry a goal threat."

Paul Scholes, who was suspended for United's 1999 winning final against Bayern Munich, is one booking from missing another final. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was below par in the first leg, and Gabriel Heinze also need to avoid being disciplined.

The trip to Italy follows a grueling fightback at Everton on Saturday to win 4-2, extending United's lead at the top of the English Premier League to five points and keeping United on course to repeat its 1999 treble.

The Reds Devils will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 19, four days before a potential meeting in the Champions League final.

"They are doing well in the championship and have extended their lead over Chelsea so they will have less pressure than they would have had with a bad result," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

"But a Champions League semifinal is something special. It will be a game where we have to play at our best without losing concentration but with the right level of intensity and serenity."

Milan, the only non-English side left in the competition, beat Torino 1-0 in the Serie A on Saturday.

Filippo Inzaghi is expected to start in place of Alberto Gilardino as Milan attempts to make up for its one-goal deficit. Inzaghi should be supported by Kaka - the competition's top scorer with nine goals - and Clarence Seedorf.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini is the only doubt after aggravating his left knee in the first leg when Milan's 2-1 halftime advantage was wiped out by two goals from Wayne Rooney.

Milan won its sixth European title in 2003 beating Juventus on penalty kicks, and has knocked United out of the competition three times, including the 1958 and 1969 semifinals.

In the other semifinal on Tuesday, Joe Cole's goal gives Chelsea the edge against Liverpool.

When the sides met at the same stage in 2005, a 1-0 victory at Anfield saw Liverpool progress to the final and win its fifth European Cup.

To claim its first European Cup, the Blues will need to forget Saturday's 2-2 draw with Bolton that effectively lost them the Premier League title.

"When we lost the semifinal two years ago we beat Bolton two days before to lift the title," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "This time we lost two crucial points against Bolton and we can hopefully go there to win the tie and go to the final."

On Wednesday, Mourinho will be without defender Ricardo Carvalho, who sustained a knee injury on Saturday, and midfielder Michael Ballack, who underwent ankle surgery on Friday.

Chelsea can still land three trophies. The League Cup was won in February and it will contest the FA Cup final.

Liverpool lost 2-1 at Portsmouth on Saturday, but manager Rafa Benitez rested seven players who started at Chelsea, including captain Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Peter Crouch.

"The positive thing for us is that when playing not too well at Stamford Bridge we still conceded just the one goal," Benitez said.

"So if we play at our true level we can beat them. The key against a very good team like Chelsea is showing everything together - ability, being well organized, and showing character."

Mourinho has launched a furious tirade at Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo, 22, had claimed that Mourinho "does not know how to admit his own failures" after the Blues boss's controversial comments on penalties.

But Mourinho hit back: "If Ronaldo says it is a lie penalties were not given against United, then he is lying.



"He needs to see he cannot fight with facts. If he is a liar, he will never reach the level he wants to reach."

Last weekend Mourinho insisted that there was a new rule in football, where United could not concede a penalty and Chelsea could not win one.

He was referring to spot-kicks both Sheffield United and Middlesbrough felt they should have been given at Old Trafford and a penalty he thought Chelsea should have had at Newcastle.

"The whole world knows how he is," Ronaldo was reported to have told Portuguese television.

"Mourinho always has to say something when he is not happy."

United are three points ahead of Chelsea in the Premiership with four games left, with the two sides meeting at Stamford Bridge on 9 May.

They will also face each other in the FA Cup final and both clubs are in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Friday 27 Apr : Today's Gossip In Newspaper

Manchester United are poised to launch a bid for Jermain Defoe, who is unhappy at Tottenham. (Sun)

Meanwhile, Tottenham are considering a £5m to £6m offer for Newcastle winger Kieron Dyer, who is keen to link up with old pal Jermaine Jenas. (Various)


But the move could fail because Dyer's current salary of £80,000 per week is almost double what Tottenham's highest earner Robbie Keane makes. (Times)

Blackburn want to buy back Craig Bellamy from Liverpool - but they will not offer Morten Gamst Pedersen as bait. (Daily Star)

Hull will sign Manchester City defender Danny Mills on a permanent basis provided they stay up. (Daily Star)

Juventus have joined Liverpool and Chelsea in the race for Valencia striker David Villa. (Daily Mirror)

Real Zaragoza are the latest Spanish side to expres an interest in Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal have told Julio Baptista he will return to Real Madrid when his loan ends this summer. (Daily Express)

Real Madrid are unlikely to make Arsenal winger Jose Reyes' stay permanent either. (Independent)

Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung could be sidelined for a year with a serious knee injury. (Daily Mail)

West Ham will appeal to the High Court if they are deducted points over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. (Sun)

However, the Hammers are set to escape with a huge fine. (Various)

Crystal Palace boss Peter Taylor is confident he will keep his job next season. (Daily Star)

Leicester have held talks with Chris Coleman over their vacant manager's post. He is considered favourite ahead of Paul Ince. (Daily Mirror)

Palermo have turned down Sven-Goran Eriksson's application for their vacant manager's post. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has told Joey Barton to watch his mouth after the midfielder criticised the club. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke will be offered a new contract - a moral victory for manager Jose Mourinho. (Various)

Avram Grant will take over as director of football at Chelsea. (Various)

Rangers are planning to increase Ibrox's capacity to 57,000 over the next three years. (Daily Record)

Celtic defender John Kennedy will not sue Romanian Ioan Ganea over the tackle that nearly ended his career. (Daily Record)

AC Milan midfielder Kaka reckons Manchester United, not Arsenal, are the Premiership club who play most like Brazil. (Daily Telegraph)

Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has held talks with Stan Kroenke over selling his 14.6% share of the club. (Daily Telegraph)

David Beckham went to great lengths to cover up his hair in Real Madrid training on Thursday - resisting Robinho's attempts to remove his beenie hat. But Becks revealed his new look later - platinum blonde. He admitted: "I have had the mickey taken out of me." (Various)

Arsene Wenger : Sir Alex Is My Vote as Best Manager of Year

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits his traditional adversary, Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, would get his vote as manager of the year.

The Gunners chief decided against nominating Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho, despite his side's bid for an unprecedented Quadruple which included a Carling Cup final victory over the Gunners.



Instead, when asked for his opinion on the Premiership's top boss this season, he said Ferguson and Steve Coppell, manager of the season's surprise package Reading, deserve recognition for their current campaigns.

Wenger and Ferguson have had their disagreements in the past but, asked who should be named manager of the year, the Frenchman said: "I feel this year Sir Alex Ferguson, because he's in a position to fight on every front, and Steve Coppell, who is in a position where nobody expected him to be and has a team who does not play negatively - they have a positive attitude everywhere they go."

Wenger, meanwhile, admits that the season has petered out into a big let-down for his youthful side following last term's march to the Champions League final.

"This year we had a massive disappointment, I feel overall, especially in going out of the Champions League the way we went out," he told the League Managers' Association website.

"But it's part of a growing process as well to handle this kind of disappointment and to still not let your disappointment stop your progression."

Thursday 26 Apr : Today's Gossip In Newspaper

Tottenham are lining up a summer swoop for Fulham keeper Antti Niemi. (Daily Mirror)

Everton will sign Preston striker David Nugent in the summer - if the Championship side fail to win promotion. (Various)

Steven Davis looks set to leave Aston Villa because he wants to play in central midfield rather than on the flank. (Daily Mirror)


Leeds are targeting MK Dons defender Ben Chorley, who has impressed while on loan at Gillingham. (Daily Star)

Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate is set to make his loan move to Middlesbrough a permanent one within 24 hours. (The Sun)

Arsenal are preparing a £2m summer move for Caen striker Yoan Gouffran. (The Independent)

Chelsea are monitoring Spartak Moscow striker Alexander Prudnikov. (The Independent)

Everton have joined the battle to land Hibernian midfielder Scott Brown but Celtic are favourites to sign the Scotland international. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal defender William Gallas is set to join Real Madrid in the summer. (The Guardian)

Wolves keeper Michael Oakes, who has not made a first-team appearance this season, is set to leave the club in the summer. (Daily Star)

Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell is in talks with Hanover, with a view to a £2m move. (Daily Mirror)


Arsenal are poised to make a bid for Hearts keeper Craig Gordon in the summer, although Gunners star Jens Lehmann is set to sign a one-year contract extension. (The Times)

Ipswich are eyeing Birmingham midfielder Neil Kilkenny. (Daily Star)

Watford want West Ham reserve keeper Jimmy Walker to replace Ben Foster, who is set to return to Manchester United after a season-long loan spell with the Hornets. (Daily Mirror)

Southampton risk losing striker Marek Saganowski because they have not opened talks over a new deal and he is being targeted by clubs in England and Europe. (The Sun)

Crystal Palace are set to sign Leyton Orient striker Gary Alexander on a free transfer. (Daily Mirror)

Jason Roberts wants to persuade striker partner Benni McCarthy not to leave Blackburn in the summer, with Chelsea being linked to the South African forward. (Daily Express)

Bolton striker Henrik Pedersen is considering returning to his native Denmark in the summer. (The Times)

Helsingborg winger Alexander Kacaniklic, a highly rated 15-year-old, is set to join Liverpool's academy after two trials. (Various)

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic could make a shock return in the Champions League semi-final, second leg against AC Milan next week after recovering quicker than expected from a shoulder injury suffered in March. (The Sun)

England defender Rio Ferdinand, who was expected to be sidelined with a groin injury until the match against Chelsea on 9 May, is set to be available for Manchester United's match against AC Milan. (Daily Express)

Brazilian star Kaka feared the sort of seven-goal mauling Manchester United recently dished out to Roma when the Old Trafford outfit took the lead against AC Milan on Tuesday but now believes his side are favourites to reach the Champions League final. (Daily Mirror)

Clyde boss Joe Miller is set to be offered the managerial post at Livingston next week following the exit of John Robertson. (Daily Record)

Dunfermline striker Tim McManus wants the Scottish Football Association to overturn the ruling that he is unable to face Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. He is cup-tied but did not kick a ball for Falkirk before switching clubs and was on the bench only once for the Bairns. (Daily Record)

Sheffield Wednesday striker Deon Burton could miss Saturday's game against Birmingham after a freak accident - in which he was poked in the eye against Coventry - left him temporarily blind in one eye. (Various)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp says fans must brace themselves for a move to a new £600m stadium or risk being perennial Premiership strugglers. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will meet with owner Roman Abramovich 24 hours after the Champions League win over Liverpool to try to sort out their differences. (The Sun)

Bradford chairman Julian Rhodes could be forced to put the club into administration for the third time since 2000 if they are relegated to League Two. (Daily Star)

Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus is ready to pledge himself to the club for two more years. (Daily Mirror)

Reading chairman John Madejski, who is Britain's 174th wealthiest man at a worth of about £350m, says the club need to be taken over by someone richer than he is. (The Sun)

Reading coach Wally Downes is in line to replace Tony Adams as Portsmouth's assistant manager, with the former Arsenal defender set to leave the role in the summer. (Daily Mail)

Former England boss Glenn Hoddle believes top players who earn £130,000 a week are worth their salaries but is dismayed by the game turning less than average footballers into multi-millionaires. (Daily Express)

Newcastle midfielder Antoine Sibierski is set to sign a one-year contract extension. (The Times)

West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has revealed that the club has a new business plan, which includes looking at building a new stadium. (The Times)

Manager Stuart Pearce's position could be under threat if Ray Ranson takes over the club. (Various)

Henri Biancheri, who is a former colleague of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger from his time at Monaco, has reiterated that he would be interested in becoming the Gunners' director of football. (Daily Telegraph)

Sunderland keeper Darren Ward has revealed that manager Roy Keane rarely rants and raves to get his point across, although the "tactics board has had a karate kick on a couple of occasions". (Various)

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock says he is probably the most superstitious manager in the Premiership as he likes to sit in the same seat, wear the same clothes, drive the same route. "I won't even visit the toilet until the players are on the pitch. There are 300 different superstitions," he added. (The Sun)

Klinsmann Admits to Become TV Football Analyst

Juergen Klinsmann returns to football one year after stepping down as Germany coach, as a television expert on a deal until 2009.

Germany's pay TV network Arena confirmed on Thursday that Klinsmann will get his own show from next season onwards around top Bundesliga matches and big-team games in foreign leagues.



"I don't see myself as the classic TV expert, but rather as an observer who enjoys football as much as the fans do," said Klinsmann.

The former Germany captain Klinsmann stepped down as national team coach last July after leading the team to third place at the home World Cup. Since then he declined to become US team coach and was also briefly linked with the manager job at English champions Chelsea.

Klinsmann, who resides in California, is an expert on the international football scene, having played in France, Italy and England.