Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he rejected a possible move to Manchester City over the summer.

Ibrahimovic completed an initially loan move from Barcelona to AC Milan last week. The deal could turn into a permanent move next summer.

Manchester City were heavily linked with a move for the former Inter Milan striker over the summer.

“City must fight Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – sides which took years to build,” said Ibrahimovic.

“City are still a side for the future. I chose Milan because they are a team that can win prizes now.

“City can wait for the future but I can’t.”

[Source: Tuttosport]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has denied reports that he has made a bid for Internazionale’s in-form midfielder Wesley Sneijder. Reports had claimed the Scot made an official bid for the Netherlands star but the offer was turned down by the Italian champions.

However, Ferguson has rubbished those reports, reassuring his belief in United’s squad as the youngsters of the squad begin to gather experience.

“I believe the squad is stronger than last season with the younger players having another year under their belts,” he told the Mail on Sunday.

“I don’t know where those reports about Sneijder came from. How can anybody turn me down when I haven’t even made a bid?”

The 26-year-old midfielder has been one of the best performers of the World Cup in South Africa, scoring five goals to help Bert van Marwijk’s side to secure a spot in Sunday’s final against Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Ajax striker Luis Suarez has admitted he would be keen on a move to the Premier League this summer.

Manchester United and Tottenham are among the clubs the 23-year-old Uruguayan star would be interested in joining.

“I am not going to make any secret of my admiration for the Premier League,” he told the Daily Star on Sunday.

“What I love about it is the fact that there are five or six Champions League quality teams in the league – and no other league in the world boasts that.

“When you look at the players Manchester City and Liverpool have like Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor and see they are playing Uefa Cup and not Champions League football, it tells you everything you need to know about the strength of the league.

“I know I have had a very good World Cup and with that naturally comes interest from other clubs.

“If a Premier League side comes in for me it will be very difficult for Ajax to keep me and I think they are fully aware of that.”

“Manchester United are a great side and, along with Real Madrid are the most prestigious club in the world,” Suarez added.

“You know if you join Manchester United and are there for any length of time you will win things.

“Tottenham hold appeal as well though, they are a team with great ambition and have done well to reach the Champions League.

“I like team that have shown ambition through the money they spend.

“If there are multiple offers form the Premier League I will take time to decide – but at the moment they are the two clubs that stand out for me.”

[Source: The Daily Star on Sunday]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants to offload several players to fund his bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

Main victim of Ferguson’s desire to bag the French striker is Dimitar Berbatov. The Scottish manager hopes to sell the Bulgarian hitman to Bayern München for £20 million.

Ferguson is also ready to sell Anderson in order to raise the cash needed to land Benzema.

French trio Olympique Marseille, Paris Saint Germain and Olympique Lyon all expressed an interest in Anderson before a knee ligament injury in the New Year.

Internazionale are desperate to tie World Cup star Wesley Sneijder. To keep Manchester United away from their playmaker, the Serie A champs have now offered him a 2015 contract extension.

“Wesley could stay on until 2015,” Sneijder’s agent Soren Lerby told De Telegraaf.

“After the World Cup we will head to Milan and sit down to speak with the directors.”

Sportmediaset.it reports Inter have already summoned Sneijder for a meeting to discuss an extension.

The Nerazzurri want to move fast after reports came trough about Manchester United who want to lure the Dutch international to Old Trafford.

Manchester United are preparing a £15 million bid for Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

The Manchester Evening News says the 24-year-old centre half is the main target to bolster United’s defence this summer.

Cahill is tipped to benefit from England’s World Cup debacle with Ledley King, Matthew Upson, Jamie Carragher and John Terry all failing to make an impact.

The former Aston Villa defender has also been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s likely England boss Fabio Capello will name Cahill in his squad for next month’s friendly against Hungary and the European Championship qualifier with Bulgaria in September.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas claims he is being chased by both Manchester United and Manchester City. But while he admits he is flattered by the interest being shown in him, he has ruled out leaving Santiago Bernabeu.

The 29-year-old Spanish international insists he is happy at the 31-time Primera Division champions.

“I am aware of the interest of both Manchester United and City,” Casillas, who is currently on World Cup duty with Spain, told Daily Star Sunday,.

“I’m always flattered whenever another club shows interest in my qualities as a goalkeeper. I have been at Real Madrid all my career and I still enjoy going to training every day.

“I enjoy meeting the fans too – but we all know how uncertain things are in football. I’m not going to say never. Right now Madrid would have to kick me out of the club before I consider a move.

“Who knows what will happen, though, if a big money offer comes in.”

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano has admitted he would be keen to play alongside Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

The Sevilla star has ruled out a move to Tottenham, who have long been linked with a move for the 29-year-old.

Sevilla are desperate to keep the striker at the club and have previously ruled out selling the Brazilian star.

Fabiano told the Daily Star Sunday: “I have a real chance of winning a World Cup here in South Africa, and that is what I must stay focused on even though I know my future has to be sorted soon.

“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 inquiry 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.”

Ecuadorian starlet Jefferson Montero has revealed he would be keen on a move to Manchester United.

The 20-year-old has admitted he would like to link up with Antonio Valencia at Old Trafford.

Montero impressed for Villarreal’s ‘B’ team last season and has already made nine caps for Ecuador.

“I hope to play in the same team with him,” revealed Montero. “Me on one side and him on the other.

“It would be amazing.

“It is what most people ask me – they want Antonio on the right and me on the left for United.

“Antonio deserves everything he gets as he’s done very well.

“He started from not very much – like me.

“I would love to follow in his footsteps and play for Manchester United, if that opportunity arises.

“Who knows what will happen in the future?

“For the moment, I am at Villarreal and have great respect for the team.”

Fabio Capello has reassured England fans that striker Wayne Rooney is fit and strong enough to last 120 minutes if needed against Germany in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Manchester United striker Rooney has been criticised for below-par performances in the tournament so far and caused further anxiety when he was substituted against Slovenia in England’s final group game because of an ankle problem.

He has recovered well since then, with Joe Cole claiming his team-mate has been back to his very best on the training field, and Capello expects a big performance from Rooney in Sunday’s last-16 clash with Germany in Bloemfontein.

When asked if the striker was fit enough to last not just 90 minutes but also extra-time if necessary the England manager was unequivocal, saying: “He’s OK, no problems. He is perfect. It was just a knock.”

That one phrase will come as a huge boost to England because Rooney has always been regarded as the player to make his country tick and he has been under intense scrutiny in South Africa.

He has failed to score in the tournament so far and was involved in controversy when he appeared to criticise fans for booing their team off the pitch following a goalless draw against Algeria.

However it appears he has been swiftly forgiven by both fans and manager, enjoying chants of ‘Rooooney’ during England’s victory over Slovenia as well as backing from Capello.

“I saw the group games on DVD and I was happy with Rooney’s performances,” the Italian said. “He has been playing well. The World Cup is not an easy game to play and I’m happy with the performance of Rooney. I hope on Sunday he will play the way he did against Slovenia. And I hope that he will score.”

The pressure on Rooney against Germany will be all the more intense because of the rivalry between the two countries.

England lost on penalties to the Germans in the semi-finals of Italia 90 and Euro 96 but can also look back on victories in Euro 2000 and of course the 1966 World Cup Final. But Capello is anxious not to build the hype.

“To go forward you have to beat all the teams,” he said. “Germany is one of those teams, not more. I respect Germany but I think also Germany respects us.”

England captain Steven Gerrard, who scored in England’s opening game against the United States, believes his revitalised team will take another step forward against the Germans having made such a slow start to their campaign.

“These are the games when you need to stand up and be counted. It’s the stage that growing up you want to be playing at,” he said.

There could be a moment in the game at any time that could come to define a player`s career. You look forward to it, it`s a fantastic game to play in and everyone is excited.

“The plan as captain is to lead this team as far as I can. Yes, I got the captaincy under difficult circumstances but it`s my responsibility now and I`m enjoying it. I would love nothing better than to win this game and take the team into the quarter-finals.”