Latin tempers and Serbian steel light up a weird week

YOU have got to love the way football defies economic realities. The world’s most precariously indebted club is beginning to whisper the world ‘quintuple’ whilst the planet’s richest has just ensured its 33rd trophyless year.

A happy New Year indeed, as long as we continue to chuck the visa bills in the bin.

Mind you, it would appear someone at Old Trafford has indeed opened the last bill, judging by the sudden contretemps over Tevez that is erupting as I write.