Extension for Vieira Close but on Hold
Arsenal, which finished second to Manchester United in last season’s English Premier League race after holding a large lead in the standings, seems intent on stepping up its commitment to winning.
The tabloid News of the World reported that Patrick Vieira, the team’s top midfielder and captain, signed a three-year contract extension worth about $18.5 million, but the 27-year-old French international denied that on the team’s Web site late Sunday.
“I have not actually signed a new contract,” Vieira said. “However, negotiations are going well, improving all the time and I am very hopeful things will be sorted out by the start of the season.”
Earlier, Vieira had made comments that sounded as if he were sure he’d be around despite his contract being up in 2004.
“The next two or three years will be very important for the club’s history....” Vieira said. “I want to win trophies with Arsenal. Our style of play and the players we have here means we are capable of winning trophies.”
One of those players is Vieira’s French teammate, striker Thierry Henry, the Premier League’s player of the year last season.
Arsenal turned down a $50-million bid for him from new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, Britain’s Sunday Times reported. Last week, AC Milan turned down $57 million from Abramovich for Italian defender Alessandro Nesta.
Ronaldinho in Limbo
With cash-strapped Paris Saint-Germain of the French league holding out for a higher bidder, it appears its Brazilian midfielder, Ronaldinho, now has a chance to join David Beckham at Real Madrid -- though perhaps not right away -- instead of Manchester United.
Roberto Assis, Ronaldinho’s agent and brother, told the British news agency, Press Association, that Paris Saint-Germain is waiting for an offer from Real Madrid and possibly for Manchester United to increase its bid of $23.5 million, which already was rejected.
Assis said Real Madrid might negotiate a deal for Ronaldinho to stay with Paris Saint-Germain for another season and join the Spanish club in the summer of 2004.
“Real Madrid’s [possible] offer is more interesting for [Paris Saint-Germain] because it would mean that the player would stay for another season in Paris,” Assis said. “[But] there is still a possibility that he can go to Manchester United.”
Marquez Moving On?
Rafael Marquez, arguably Mexico’s best player on defense, is close to a transfer from French club AS Monaco to Barcelona of the Spanish league.
The Spanish daily Marca reported that the two teams already have a preliminary agreement for Marquez for as much as $8 million.
The paper also reported that Marquez, who was not with Mexico’s national team for Sunday’s game against El Salvador at the Home Depot Center, was active in the negotiations and had urged Monaco officials to complete the transaction.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta would not confirm the deal but acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing.
Chilean Title to Cobreloa
Patricio Galaz scored two goals and Luis Fuentes and Jose Luis Diaz also scored to lead Cobreloa to a 4-0 victory over Colo Colo and clinch the Chilean league title at Calama. The teams had tied, 0-0, in the first leg of the series.
Colo Colo striker and Chilean international Ivan “Bam Bam” Zamorano was ejected for protesting a call in the 72nd minute. The former Real Madrid and Inter Milan player had said that Sunday’s game might be his last, but he did not confirm his retirement afterward.
The game was also the last for Cobreloa Coach Nelson Acosta, who has been hired to coach Bolivia’s national team.
Quick Passes
Wesley Sonck, who led the Belgian league in scoring the last two seasons and also has scored a World Cup goal for Belgium, signed a five-year contract to play for Ajax Amsterdam of the Dutch league.... Colombian midfielder Maurico Molina, one of the country’s rising stars, was acquired by Mexican team Morelia on a transfer from Independiente Medellin of Colombia.... Cuba defeated host Jamaica, 2-1, in a friendly at Kingston on first-half goals by Reysander Fernandez and Jeniel Marquez.... Iraq club team el-Shourtah played el-Kuwaiti of Kuwait to a 2-2 tie in a first-round game of the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arab Championship at Cairo. It was the first time since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 that teams from those countries had played each other.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
