You’ve heard the old adage: “Everyone has a price.” But are there exceptions in the high-stakes business of world football? In the past couple of days it looks increasingly likely that Manchester City are going to fail in their bid to lure Chelsea’s John Terry up north.  Despite...

Remember the days when you used to come home from an after school kick-about boasting about the double hat-trick you bagged? Well, Jonathan Pereira can do just that…but this time for Villarreal. During a recent pre-season ‘friendly’ against amateur side Navata, Villarreal racked up an astounding...

With Jermaine Pennant’s move to Real Zaragoza, Spain’s gone and done it again: nicking another player from England.  Okay, fine, Pennant is not in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo. (And until this coming season, Real Zaragoza were not in the same league as Real Madrid!) But give credit where...

With the additions of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Real Madrid attack and rumors of the impending arrivals of Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery, a host of talented Dutch internationals could be up for grabs. Ahead of a crucial pre-World Cup season, Footy Factor assesses their prospects at the Bernabeu: Arjen...

It’s fair to say that up until last week it was inconceivable to think that a club would splash out ₤80m on a single player. Smashing Kaka’s short lived world record transfer by more than ₤20m, the Ronaldo saga proves that in football, anything is possible. It will take a numbe of seasons...

Winners Sir Alex Ferguson: During his time in Manchester, Sir Alex has lived by one principle –no player is bigger than the club. (Not Becks. Not RVN. Not Jaap Stam.)  Ronaldo’s departure might throw the team’s starting XI out of shape – but it’s given the gaffer who has won everything possible...

Wow. Now things are starting to get silly. Real Madrid are on the verge of buying Cristiano Ronaldo for a breathtaking £80 million. Barely days after they scooped up Kaka from Milan. Don’t they realize there’s a recession going on?  What are the repercussions? We will find out. Real Madrid’s...

Los Madridistas finally got their man today as Kaka kick-started the Real revolution in style by signing on a six-year deal for a world record transfer fee of ₤59m. Kaka, who won the European and World Footballer of the year awards in 2007, spent six successful seasons at the San Siro winning the Champions...

Pellegrini Adds to Madrid’s Armory With the news of Carlo Ancelotti’s rather unsurprising arrival at Chelsea dominating this week’s football headlines, reports of another choice managerial vacancy being filled have slipped through relatively unnoticed. Displaying uncharacteristic discretion,...

The rest is history Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona were yesterday, as expected, crowned champions of their respective leagues. Hats off to the table toppers Having had to endure a cagey last 5 minutes against an unusually aggressive Gunners side, the Old Trafford faithful saw through the...