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Veron Urges Tevez to stay

Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has urged fellow countryman Carlos Tevez to stay at Old Trafford.

Tevez is set to see his two-year loan deal reach its conclusion at the end of the season, but is yet to agree a permanent deal.

The Argentinian striker's future has been uncertain throughout the winter months, with a number of clubs rumoured to be interested in luring the 24-year-old away from the Red Devils.

But Veron, who joined United from Lazio for £28.1m in 2001, told Tevez he would be making a big mistake if he chose to leave Manchester.

Veron told the Daily Mail: "I hope Carlos Tevez stays at Manchester United because it is important for Argentine football.

"He'll know what he has to do to resolve the situation. I hope it is all resolved for the best."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he would like Tevez to stay at the club and although the striker has been linked with a speculative move to Real Madrid, his agent Kia Joorabchian has denied that any offer has been turned down.

Tevez has played in 15 competitive games for United this season - nine as a substitute - and has scored eight goals.

Source:
http://www.sportinglife.com

Angolan driver to test for Williams F1

The Williams team has invited Angolan driver Raphael Teixeira to test for them, raising hopes the country may see its first ever Formula 1 driver, state media reported Sunday.

Teixeira, who is currently in Formula 3 with UK-based Ultimate Motorsports Series, is hoping to start the tests in January, according to the daily Angolan sports newspaper Jornal dos Desportos.

The 26-year-old's father and manager, Jorge Teixeira, told the newspaper that he was "taken by surprise" by the invitation from Williams but said he believed that Angola was getting closer to have its first Formula 1 driver.

Teixeira began his racing career in the Portuguese Karting circuits in 2000, joining Formula 3 in 2002.

Formula 3 is a known breeding ground for Formula 1 - World Champions Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Nelson Piquet were all Formula 3 champions.

Source:
http://sport.id.msn.com

Rooney: Chelsea still have Euro Blues

Wayne Rooney is convinced Chelsea will still be experiencing a Champions League final hangover at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Although it is almost nine months since Manchester United profited at the Blues' expense to collect the biggest prize in European club football in Moscow, Rooney feels it will be a long time before Chelsea get over the heartache.

He sensed it at Stamford Bridge when the two sides met in September and he does not feel it will be much different when Luiz Felipe Scolari's men tackle the Red Devils on enemy territory for the first time since that fateful penalty shoot-out.

"Losing the Champions League final to any team is difficult but to lose to one of your big rivals is hard to take," Rooney told United Review.

"The next game against that team is always going to be a big one, with people talking about the final and the players no doubt thinking about it as well.

"You could definitely tell it was still on their minds and I am sure it will be the case again tomorrow - I bet our fans will be reminding them."

Liverpool's failure to beat Stoke on Saturday means United will be back in pole position should they overcome Chelsea, who are attempting to preserve an unbeaten away record, as they will have two games in hand and be just five points back.

It just heightens the anticipation, emphasising why every member of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad wants to play.

"You always want to play against the best teams," said Rooney.

"There has been great competition between the two sides in the last few years and there is always a lot at stake whenever we play each other.

"It's a big match for us because we know if we win, we will be within a point of Chelsea."

Source:

http://www.sportinglife.com

Japanese media criticise Honda over pull-out

Japanese newspapers levelled harsh criticism at cash-strapped Honda Motor over the weekend after its abrupt withdrawal from Formula One.

Honda announced the shock pull-out on Friday citing the financial crisis, ending an involvement in the sport which dates back to the 1960s.

Leading F1 commentator Jun Imamiya said Honda had simply given up after performing poorly since returning as a full constructor in 2006.

"Honda, as we knew it in its first F1 period (1964-68) and the second period (1983-1992), didn't give a damn and went on its way, win or lose," Imamiya wrote.

"Fighting right now without calling time is what F1 is all about. Not putting things off. That's what Honda Motor Co. has taught the Japanese people," he added.

Another commentator, Ken Kawakita, accused Honda of deserting fans after it stirred them up "and consumed their expectations as a kind of fuel."

"Honda has publicly declared that 'racing is our DNA' and behaved as if it was a company symbolising motorsport," he wrote in the Nikkan Sports.

"For being that way, it is socially responsible as a member of the racing world ... That responsibility is something that cannot be abandoned in such a selfish manner."

Honda's team racked up just three wins over the years but its engines powered drivers including world champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost to 69 victories.

Columnist Kunihiko Akai said Honda's success in the European-dominated sport had been in important in helping Japanese overcome a collective inferiority complex.

"Even though the Japanese people achieved their goals in technologies after they toiled in catching and overtaking the West, there remained a mental emptiness," Akai wrote in Sunday's Chunichi Sports daily.

"Honda helped fill the void through F1."

Former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki, whose Super Aguri team folded this year, said Honda's demise would have serious repercussions for Japan's future in the sport.

"F1 is a great goal for children in karting," Aguri said.

"With Honda's withdrawal, that goal may seem to be crumbling down. They may possibly feel that the 'world of dreams' is disappearing," he said, quoting Honda's catchphrase.

Former Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato, who started his career at a Honda-owned racing school, described the pull-out as a "shock."

"I took an interest in F1 when I saw Ayrton Senna ride a Lotus Honda at the Japan Grand Prix in 1987," Sato said.

"Honda's motorsport spirit has since lived inside me as something absolute."

Source:
http://sport.id.msn.com

Manchester City Targeting Kaka, Messi, Villa & Terry

By Mike Maguire

The Daily Mail claims that Manchester City will attempt to land either Kaka, Lionel Messi, David Villa or John Terry during the winter transfer window.

According to the tabloid, Sky Blues boss Mark Hughes has been promised one superstar signing by the the club's Abu Dhabi-based benefactor, Shiekh Mansour.

The Welsh manager has focused on comparitively low-key targets thus far, with Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz and West Ham United duo Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker tipped to join Wayne Bridge at Eastlands.

But once Hughes feels he has added enough depth to his relegation-threatened squad, he will be given the green light to chase any of the four fantasy-footballers on City's shortlist.

The North West club have been linked with Kaka ever since their mega-money takeover at the end of last summer - and the subsequent £32 million purchase of Robinho from Real Madrid. Indeed, at point it seemed the AC Milan playmaker might be open to the possibility of joining his fellow Brazilian in Manchester, but he wasted little time quashing those rumours.

John Terry is another name that cropped in early September, and perhaps the link makes more sense now than it did then. Hughes' troops have been woefully inconsistent at the back, a problem the England captain's arrival could go along way towards fixing. However, the likely of him leaving Chelsea is... well, it's not going to happen, to put it bluntly. He's challenging for the Premier League title and already getting paid bucketloads - why would he move?

Similarly, Lionel Messi has no reason to ditch high-flying Barcelona for a side who were recently humiliated by Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup. The diminutive Argentine is arguably the world's most exciting player, currently starring for arguably the world's most exciting team. Another no-go, it would seem.

And then there is David Villa. The Valencia striker has been persistently linked with City over the past few weeks, and it was even reported last month that the clubs had opened negotiations. But the latest reports from Spain suggest the EURO 2008 winner will not be leaving the Mestalla this winter, even though the cash-strapped La Liga outfit could really use the sizeable transfer fee that would come with Villa's sale.

So will any of these four make their way to the City of Manchester Stadium by the beginning of February? Only time will tell, but on the surface it seems an exercise in futility for Sparky and the Sheikh.

Source:
http://www.goal.com

Roma Hope to Spoil Beckham Bow

By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Rome

Roma are hoping to spoil David Beckham's Serie A debut in Sunday evening's top Serie A game at the Stadio Olimpico.

The England midfielder is set to be included in Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the trip to the Italian capital.

Beckham, who joined the Rossoneri on a two-month loan deal from the Los Angeles Galaxy, is eager to make an immediate impact.

Milan enter their first official game of the year nine points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

"We will have to wait and see what Beckham's condition is," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti.

"If we only evaluate his past performances and his play, he is probably a great champion."

Despite having to do without injured captain Francesco Totti, Spalletti is upbeat about his team's chances.

"I don't know how many stars Milan will play with," he said.

"It's probably going to be a difficult game but I have confidence in my group."

Inter Milan host Cagliari on Saturday.

The Nerazzurri go into the San Siro encounter on the back of a nine-game winning run in Serie A.

Siena travel to Turin to play second-placed Juventus, who will be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and striker David Trezeguet.

Juve trail Inter by six points and have been without the two players for several months.

A defeat for AC Milan against Roma could see Fiorentina climb to third in the standings provided Cesare Prandelli's men beat strugglers Lecce at home.

The Viola are unbeaten at home and trail the Rossoneri by a single point.

In-form Napoli expect to maintain their positive run at the San Paolo when they play hosts to Catania.

They have only given away one point this campaign in Naples and their form has allowed them to remain in fifth position.

Udinese aim to stop the rot when they host Sampdoria.

The Friuli outfit have taken just two points in their last eight games and a defeat against Samp could prove costly for under-fire coach Pasquale Marino.

Torino travel to the Marassi to meet Genoa looking for their first win on the road this season.

The Granata have collected just two points out of a possible 24 on their travels.

Palermo and Atalanta square off in Sicily with the Bergamaschi knowing that a defeat will allow the Rossaneri to leapfrog them in the standings.

Reggina will have an added motivation to beat Lazio on Sunday knowing that a victory could see them climb out of the relegation zone.

The Amaranto go into the encounter in Reggio Calabria two points behind Torino, who hold the last position of safety.

Bottom side Chievo will be looking to begin 2009 on the right foot when they travel to the Renato Dall' Ara stadium to meet Bologna.

The Flying Donkeys have won just two games of 17 this campaign and are six points adrift from Torino.

Source:
http://www.sportinglife.com

Cristiano Ronaldo Involved in Car Accident

One of the hottest soccer players in the world was involved in a car accident but thankfully he is allright. His car...not so much!

Cristiano Ronaldo was driving through a tunnel at Manchester Airport when he hit the wall and completely destroyed his very expensive Ferrari.

A witness told the UK Sun: "The front of Ronaldo's car was completely mangled. There was metal all over the road and debris - and we had to dodge our way through it.

“Ronaldo was just standing at the side of the road looking forlorn and bewildered...My daughter said to me, 'Oh my God - that's Cristiano Ronaldo!' It's amazing he was okay because his car looked so bad.”

We don't know what we would have done with ourselves if something happened to Ronaldo. Surprisingly, he left the accident scene without a scratch and was at practice later in the day. Now that's our man!

Source:
http://www.hollyscoop.com