News - Archive

Cristiano Ronaldo is nervous but excited ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester United.

That's the view of Ronaldo's team-mate Michael Essien, who is looking forward to taking on the Premier League giants.

The Portuguese spent six years with the Premier League leaders, winning three league titles and the Champions League once, before leaving for Madrid in 2009.

"Cristiano is anxious; you want to start the game. He is in extraordinary physical condition," Essien said.

The former Chelsea man also added that Jose Mourinho's side are prepared for encounter, while noting United's considerable attacking threat.

A World Anti-Doping Agency official believes performance-enhancing drugs are a risk to all of society, not just sport.

WADA director-general David Howman claims that 99 percent of the substances used to make the drugs, came unregulated and non-sanitised from China.

"Steroids and EPO and growth hormone, all these things, this is not just elite athletes. This is society in general," Howman said.

"There's more money to be made in supplying high school kids than there is supplying elite athletes even. At local gyms there are people pushing steroids. It's a huge industry.

Catania defender Nicola Legrottaglie has claimed he would love to play in the A-League alongside former team-mate Alessandro Del Piero.

Legrottaglie has revealed Australia 'fascinates' him and with his contract expiring in June he has made it clear, after 19 years in Italian football, he is interested in playing abroad if Catania do not offer him another deal.

The 36-year-old central defender played 147 games for Juventus between 2003 and 2011 and it seems one of the Turin club's favourite sons has inspired Legrottaglie to end his career in the A-League.

"It would be a pleasure to play with Alex Del Piero," Legrottaglie said in an interview with La Repubblica on Tuesday.

Arsenal left-back Andre Santos believes his future still lies with the Premier League club after joining Brazilian side Gremio on loan.

The Brazil international signed for Arsenal in 2011 for 6.8 million pounds, but has slipped behind Kieran Gibbs and January signing Nacho Monreal in the pecking order, making just 13 Premier League starts for the club.

The 29-year-old maintains that he will return to play for the club as per Arsene Wenger's wishes, despite incurring the wrath of supporters for his poor performances in 2012/13.

"I talked (with Wenger) and we decided together this would be a good chance for me to get on top of my game," he told the London Evening Standard. 

Barcelona striker David Villa has been released from hospital after suffering from kidney stone problems.

The Spain international was admitted to hospital on Monday but has been discharged a day later following treatment.

"David Villa was admitted on Monday to the Hospital of Barcelona, because of a renal colic. The player has been subjected to appropriate treatment to remove kidney stones on Tuesday and has already been discharged from hospital," a statement on the Barcelona website read.

"Villa will rejoin training this Wednesday and could be available for the next game against Granada."

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has talked down his chances of replacing Alex Ferguson as Manchester United's next manager.

The former Inter Milan man has been heavily linked with replacing Ferguson when the 71-year-old finally decides to call time on his tenure at Old Trafford.

When 50-year-old Mourinho was asked on Tuesday if he would be replacing his counterpart at United, he replied: "No, because we have to end our career at the same time. He at 90, me at 70."

Mourinho, speaking ahead of the Champions League round-of-16 first leg between Real and United on Wednesday, said his next job will in England, where he enjoyed a hugely successful spell in charge of Chelsea between 2004 and 2007.