AC Milan have strongly denied that Ronaldinho and Thiago Silva are up for sale after renewed media speculation in Italy yesterday that they could be sold.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Milan owner and the Italian president, has been adamant that Ronaldinho, 30, will not only see out the last year of his contract this coming season but also stay at the club for the rest of his career.
However, problems with the Brazilian's fitness have reignited speculation about a move for the waning talent, with the Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy said to be interested.
"AC Milan confirm yet again that Ronaldinho and Thiago Silva are absolutely not for sale," the Serie A club said in a statement.
Reports had said Milan would try to recruit fellow Brazilian Robinho, on loan at Santos from Manchester City, if Ronaldinho, the former World Player of the Year, departed.
Defender Thiago Silva is still being linked to Real Madrid.
In Germany, Louis van Gaal, the Bayern Munich coach, said yesterday that star winger Arjen Robben should not have been allowed to play at the World Cup for the Holland because he was not fully fit.
Robben reported to Bayern's preseason training camp with a torn left hamstring, the same injury he picked up before the World Cup.
Van Gaal said the Dutch team's coach and doctor failed to protect Robben and allowed him to play despite the injury. Robben missed the first two games but then played every match, including the 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the final.
"Every player wants to play a World Cup. He'll do anything to be make it happen," Van Gaal said. "That's why we have a coach and a doctor, to protect the player. It's the job of a coach and very much so of the doctor - and it wasn't done.
"I called Robben several times during the World Cup and warned him," said Van Gaal, who is also Dutch. Van Gaal said Robben had fluid drained from his hamstring every two days at the World Cup.
The doctor who performed surgery on Kaka's knee says the Real Madrid midfielder put his career at risk by playing for Brazil at the World Cup. Dr Marc Martens, who performed the arthroscopic surgery on Kaka's left knee, says the forward played through the pain in South Africa with a nagging injury that soon became "unbearably painful."
Martens told Spanish newspaper Marca that Kaka said he was in pain during knockout stage matches against Chile and Holland. Kaka's career could have been over if not for the timely operation on Thursday, according to Martens. A routine pre-season check by Real doctors discovered the problem, which will sideline Kaka for three to four months.
Spanish government lawyers will appeal a ruling by a judge in Alicante that denied access to taped conversations and other evidence that appeared to suggest promoted Primera Liga club Hercules were involved in match fixing.
The evidence was collected as part of a separate investigation and the judge in Alicante ruled it should not be released.
Hercules, who deny any wrongdoing, were promoted to Spain's top flight following more than a decade in the second division.
The club said in a statement on Thursday on their website that suggestions the goalkeeper of rival club Cordoba had been paid to throw a match in May which Hercules won 4-0 were wholly false.
* Agencies
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Mobile phone packages comparison
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.