ARSENE WENGER dreams of the culture he has established at Arsenal long outlasting his reign as coach and has compared himself to Johan Cruyff, the iconic former Barcelona coach whose style of play still informs the Spanish side today.

RECENT Champions League winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka have sought to temper the growing anticipation that this is going to be Real Madrid’s year in Europe as their side prepare to host Group C rivals Marseille tonight.

Ronaldinho has denied speculation in the Spanish press he is considering retiring from football at the end of the season.

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi claims Andrea Pirlo will end his career at the San Siro, putting an end to speculation linking the midfielder with a move to Chelsea.

Kaka is confident Real Madrid are building a squad capable of knocking Barcelona off their throne next season.

FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter is still trying to find a way of curbing the Premier League’s spending power.

Samuel Eto’o is virtually certain to snub Manchester City’s “stratospheric” offer.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is still trying to find a way of curbing the Premier League’s spending power.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has admitted he had to act quickly in a “crazy” market to secure the signing of defender Glen Johnson.

Lyon could be tempted to sell Karim Benzema to Manchester United if the Premier League side put in a big-money bid, according to director Bernard Lacombe.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has claimed Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona have made offers for France playmaker Franck Ribery.

Real Madrid director of sport Jorge Valdano has revealed the club may end their interest in Valencia striker David Villa because the asking price is too high.

THE normal rules don’t apply in football. The global economy may be mired in the worst recession in living memory, but transfer records can still be smashed.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claims a “gentleman’s agreement” existed over the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo before he left the Spanish giants in January.

BARCELONA finance director Xavier Sala i Martin is bewildered as to how Real Madrid are funding their summer spending spree. With a reported transfer budget of €300m at their disposal, Madrid president Florentino Perez has this week set about creating a second ‘galacticos’ era.

The £80m transfer fee for Cristiano Ronaldo has been described as “excessive” by UEFA president Michel Platini.

Chelsea insist they have not made a bid for Real Madrid-bound Valencia striker David Villa.

Valencia have turned down a reported offer from Chelsea for David Villa, with the Spain international seemingly set to join Real Madrid instead.

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta has lashed out at Real Madrid and lambasted his counterpart Florentino Perez for “distorting” the transfer market after the €65 million world-record signing of Kaka from AC Milan.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has lashed out at Real Madrid and lambasted his counterpart Florentino Perez for “distorting” the transfer market.

Real Madrid will continue to target ’galacticos’ after completing the £59m capture of Brazil playmaker Kaka.

Real Madrid’s relationship with Manchester United is more important than signing Cristiano Ronaldo, according to club president Florentino Perez.

KAKA edged closer to a world-record move to Real Madrid yesterday after AC Milan confirmed they were willing to cash in on the Brazil star.

AC Milan general manager and vice-president Adriano Galliani is adamant Kaka will not join Chelsea and has also warned the London side off making a bid for Alexandre Pato.

Chelsea tonight dismissed as “totally untrue” reports that they have tabled a world transfer record offer of £73.5m for AC Milan’s Brazilian superstar Kaka.

AC Milan tonight denied general manager Adriano Galliani was negotiating the sale of Kaka to Real Madrid during his recent visit to Spain.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has put a price tag on Franck Ribery of “€100m” as several clubs continue to be linked with the Frenchman.

Manchester City are anxious that their contact-building meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta should not be viewed as the first step towards a move for Samuel Eto’o.

MICHEL PLATINI yesterday told the European parliament how UEFA plan to address two issues which he believes are blighting football — the frivolous spending of clubs and the exploitation of young players.

Michel Platini today warned “the values that football represents are in danger” and told the European parliament in Brussels that UEFA are considering enforcing a cap on the expenditure of clubs.

Clubs competing in the Champions League will learn tomorrow if they are to face stringent restrictions on spending on wages.

UEFA president Michel Platini will step up his efforts to bring in financial controls on top clubs after being stunned by Manchester City’s “ridiculous” £100m bid to sign Kaka.

ANOTHER day, another Berbatov icepick to the head of the opposition. Suddenly the ‘Whither Berbatov?’ think-pieces are thin on the media ground. Harrumph.

OUR correspondent ALLAN PROSSER is again filling in for the absent Liam Mackey who is away on international duty this week.

MANCHESTER CITY are beginning to discover that possessing world football’s healthiest bank balance does not necessarily guarantee a one-way ticket to paradise.

The Barclays Premier League would be a perfect fit for Kaka, according to Manchester City’s Micah Richards.

Everton boss David Moyes has described the transfer policies adopted by West Ham and Portsmouth as “a danger to football”.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes it would be a mistake for Kaka to join Barclays Premier League big spenders Manchester City.

Manchester City were today continuing their pursuit of Kaka with the player’s spokesperson admitting it was “not impossible” a £100m deal could still be done for the AC Milan superstar.

Manchester City have been linked with a sensational €100m bid for AC Milan star Kaka.

AC Milan have denied receiving a €150m offer from Chelsea or any other club for Kaka.

Kaka has set his heart on a shock transfer to Chelsea, according to his advisor.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claims Ronaldinho has rejected a lucrative offer from Manchester City, despite the English club offering twice what the Italian giants can.

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