Another day, another rumour quashed

Wigan Athletic have signed Argentinian striker Mauro Boselli from Estudiantes for an undisclosed fee.

Boselli was recently linked to Manchester United and Bolton, but has put pen to paper on a four-year deal after passing a medical at the DW stadium earlier today. The 25-year-old joins the Latics with an impressive record of having scored 32 goals in 57 appearances for Estudiantes.

Wigan’s manager, Roberto Martínez,  said he is looking forward to working with Boselli.

“Mauro is a goalscorer, who lives to put the ball in the back of the net and he is somebody we have been looking at for a long time,” he told the club’s official website. “At 25-years-old he is at a perfect moment in his career to come and play in the Premier League, and he has all the right qualities to make his mark at this level.

“He is a clever player, a natural finisher who can cause havoc in the penalty area, and he gives the team some great new options with the variety of roles he can play. We want him to reach his full potential here and bring plenty of smiles to the fans.”

Boselli joins a growing list of player who had been linked to United, but have been snapped up by other clubs. According to United’s official website, 70 players have been linked with the club this summer costing a estimated total of £1.269billion.

Transfer targets no longer available:

Mauro Boselli
Angel Di Maria
Simon Kjaer
Edinson Cavani
Jack Rodwell
Michael Ballack
David Villa
Sofiane Feghouli

Danish defender set to move to Spurs

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed that the club has accepted a bid for both Simon Kjaer and Edinson Cavani. Danish defender Kjaer had been linked regularly with a move to Old Trafford and United scouts have attended Palermo games to assess one of Europe’s hottest talents, but did not choose to follow up on their interest.

“Tottenham have bid €35m, an offer we cannot refuse, seeing as the two players have both said they want to leave,” Zamparini told Sky Italia television.

Danish international defender Kjaer is hot property and was also linked with Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and Manchester United.

Uruguayan striker Cavani had been close to Inter, who seem to have toned down their interest, while Manchester City made an offer.

“We will reinvest the money for these players,” assured Zamparini. “The midfield is my biggest concern, whereas in defence and attack we are fairly covered.”

Kjaer has had a World Cup of mixed fortunes. A precise raking cross eventually led to a Denmark goal, which highlighted the fact that a centre back, who doesn’t just hoof the ball up-field, is a rare and useful commodity, but he was found wanting defensively on several occasions.

He tended to be on the wrong side of the player he was marking and wasn’t as determined to win duels as you would hope from a central defender. He’s a strong, pacy lad who can read the game well, but is prone to concentration lapses and just doesn’t look like he could reach the levels of Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic.

To be fair, he has other attributes that make him a very good prospect, so it will be interesting to see how he developes and whether our scouts got it right by advising Sir Alex to move for Chris Smalling instead.

Little Pea proves he can add pace to United’s attack

FIFA have reserved all their technology for analyzing performances and crunching statistical data. Official stats from the group stages were released on Saturday, highlighting Argentina’s, as well as Brazil’s passing and shooting ability.

One stat, which will be interesting for Manchester United fans, is the revelation that Mexican striker Javier Hernandez was the fastest player in the entire group stage, clocked at a speed of 32.15 km/h. This might come as a bit of a surprise as some of the feedback received from Chivas fans about Chicharito was that he isn’t the fastest player around, but this stat seems to disprove that notion.

What is unclear about this statistic is whether it was measured on or off the ball, but I think it safe to assume that the speed was achieved while running without the ball.

United supporters who have been following the World Cup in South Africa will have been impressed with the goals Chicharito has scored against France and Argentina. In both situations, he displayed quickness of thought and movement, as well as composed finishing with either foot.

It is Chicharito’s acceleration and quick movement in the box that is starting to get me excited. One of Berbatov’s weaknesses as a goalscorer is that he is slow off the mark and is usually half a second too late on the end of gilt-edged chances. Berba has also shown on several occasions that he over-analyzes situations and tends not to play instinctively around the goal mouth.

Hopefully, Chicharito’s pace and decisive instincts will see United regain the English Premier League title.

I expect to see little of Chicharito in the opening months, since the coaches will want to take him under their wings while he is prepared for premier league action, but hopefully he will get some meaningful minutes after a bedding-in period.

Some other stats from the group stages:

The fastest players: Hernandez (32.15 km/h), Avraam Papadopoulos (31.57), Konstantinos Katsouranis (31.50)

Shots on target: Messi (11), Asamoah Gyan, Higuain, Valter Birsa (all on eight)

Assists: Sung-Yueng, Boka, Kaka, Thomas Muller (all 2)

Completed passes: Gilberto Silva (211), Maicon (210), Xavi (205)

Solo Runs: Messi, Maicon (both 18), Ronaldo (17) Lukas Podolski (16)

Crosses completed: Wilkshire, Geremi (8), Xavi, Jesus Navas, Simone Pepe, Andre Ayew, Landon Donovan (all 7)

Chicharito scores a rocket against Argentina

Manchester United new boy Javier Hernandez continued to impress at the World Cup 2010 by scoring his second game of the tournament. the Mexican striker received the ball on the edge of the area, before turning quickly and slamming it into the roof of the net.

United fans will be encouraged by his quickness of thought, movement and action, as well as his calmness and ability in front of goal.

It’s also interesting to note that Chicharito scored this peach of a goal from his left foot, even though he is primarily right-footed.

Brazil striker issues “come and get me” please to United

Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano has confirmed that he will not be signing a contract extension and wants to move to a big club where he can win league titles and perhaps the European Cup. Manchester United and AC Milan would be his preferred destinations and his agent confirmed last summer that Sevilla had rejected an offer from Milan, which forced them to move for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Luis Fabiano is a striker I have long admired and the Red Devils have had him watched several times, including on one occasion where three United scouts attended a match in which he scored a brace. He is also a very determined player and recently pulled Sevilla back into a game against Barcelona where his side were 3-0 and a man down by scoring a goal and giving the Barca defence a torrid time.

Fabiano is pacy and has great ball control, which means he would fit perfectly in United’s attacking line-up. Although he doesn’t have the vision or passing of Berbatov, his link-up play with Wayne Rooney (given their attributes) could potentially be as good or better than that of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. His finishing is very good and United currently do lack a natural goal-scorer. Hernandez looks to be in that mould, but Fabiano already has established a very dependable strike rate. Also, at 29 he has some of the best years in front of him, but wouldn’t be a long term block to the progress of players like Kiko Macheda or Danny Welback.

A quick roundup of why Luis Fabiano would be a great addition to the squad:

• He has scored a goal every two games for Sevilla
• He is determined player who has scored in a UEFA Cup final
• He is fast and has great ball control
• He is a very natural player who doesn’t over think situations like berba
• He actually wants to play for United
• He’s 29, which means he has 3 to 4 of his best years in front of him, but wouldn’t be a permanent hindrance to the likes of Macheda or Welbeck

Fabiano told the Daily Star Sunday: “I have made it clear that I will not be signing a new contract with Sevilla and at 29 I now need to join a club where I can start challenging for the highest honours from the first season.

“I have heard Tottenham Hotspur made an enquiry about me but, with all respect, that is not somewhere I am going to be able to win the Premier League or the European Cup in the next three or four years.

“There would be no point in me joining Tottenham. I might as well stay at Sevilla, as it’s the same thing. Sevilla are actually bigger when you look at how much we have been in the European Cup, so there would be no point me moving to a smaller team.

“The choice will come down to Manchester United and AC Milan. That is the sort of team I want to be signing for, one of the true giants of Europe.

“I think the way Manchester United play football is very attractive, I must be honest and say Premier League football attracts me and also the way Manchester United play football attracts me.

“You think about being Wayne Rooney’s strike partner and that is very attractive for any striker.

“I think the style of Premier League football suits me and I think I could score goals and be very successful there.

“Their coach is a winner, their players are winners and they are one of the few teams in Europe challenging for the top honours season after season.

“As soon as the World Cup is over I will make a quick decision on my future – and while it is going on I hope Sevilla can open discussions. I have enjoyed my time here but I now need to be at a giant.”

Probably more entertaining than England

England’s performances in the group stages have been anything but exciting with many of the EPL stars failing to shine. Some of the games have been very difficult to watch and have frustrated fans and staff alike. In fact the performances have been so dire that the usually stoic Fabio Capello has been very animated during the World Cup. Quite frankly, Capello has been more entertaining than any of England’s performances.

Here’s a great clip of Capello during the match versus Slovenia with subtitles. Nice to see him being so “in to it” and his exchange with Stuart Pearce.

Club confirm quintet’s contracts will not be renewed

Following the departures of Tom Heaton to Cardiff City, as well as Ron-Robert Zieler to Hannover, Manchester United today have confirmed that Febian Brandy, Sam Hewson and Scott Moffatt will be released this summer.

The quintet’s contracts all expire at the end of the current month, and they will be free to join new clubs from 1 July.

Brandy had previously been loaned out to Swansea, Hereford and Gillingham, but failed to really impress during any of those loan spells. Although blessed with many attributes, he never really hit a rich vein of form to suggest he could make the step up to premier league football.

The 25-man squad rule, which is a byproduct of next season’s Home-Grown rule, means that premier league clubs no longer have the luxury to wait on late-bloomers.

I wish the lads well and hope they go on to find their level and have fulfilling careers in football.

Transfer rumours perpetuated by the player’s camp

A Manchester United spokesman has moved to end the incessant rumours linking Joe Cole with a summer move to Old Trafford. The unnamed United official told Daniel Taylor of The Guardian that Joe Cole was not even a target and will not be signed by the club.

The statement has been confirmed by several other broadsheet writers as well. This would seem to be consistent with the statement made by Mark Ogden of the Telegraph a few weeks back that his United sources were surprised by the rumours and had no interest in the player at all.

Apparently those inside Old Trafford are getting fed up with the rumour and have moved to quash them today.

Chicharito scores against France

I was commenting during the match that Mexico were screaming out for a goalscorer and should throw on Hernandez. He did come on as a sub and 10 minutes later, the new United striker scored against France.

He took a killer pass down with sublime skill and kept his cool to take the ball past Hugo Lloris before passing the ball into goal.

If NIKE needed a real life example of how to “write the future”, Chicharito would be it.

A year ago, he almost gave up on football.
A year on, he signs for Manchester United and scores for his country in the World Cup.

Pardon the poor quality, but for all those who missed Javier Hernandez’ goal against France, here it is:

Back up videos, in case the other clips get taken off YouTube:

Highlights in French (good video quality):

Red Devils to face difficult tail-end to 2010/11

The fixtures for the upcoming English Premier League season were announced today with Manchester United scheduled to play back-to-back matches against Arsenal, as well as Chelsea in December and at the end of April/beginning of May.

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