Tag Archives: calciopoli

Kolo Toure urges Robin van Persie to join Manchester City

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Come and join us, Robin! Toure urges Van Persie to help Man City win Champions League

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UPDATED:

10:37 GMT, 6 July 2012

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure believes former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie would boost their chances of winning the Champions League if he opted for a move to the Etihad Stadium.

City had been linked with the Holland international even before he announced on Wednesday he would not be extending his contract, which has a year to run, with the Gunners.

Join the team: Toure (fourth left) has urged Van Persie to move north and play for City

Join the team: Toure (fourth left) has urged Van Persie to move north and play for City

Having played with him at Arsenal, Toure is well aware of what Van Persie can offer a side and would welcome him at City.

'Robin is a top player. I've played with him, I know him and he's a great man,' the centre-back told the Manchester Evening News.

'At City we have great players and the club does what it wants in transfers. But for me, if Robin comes it's great because I know what he can do.

'You have to build your squad every year to do better; to win the Champions League is very difficult as we have seen.'

Barcelona and AC Milan are considering joining the race to sign Van Persie alongside City and United who both want Arsenal’s talisman, while it is no secret that Juventus have him at the top of their wish list.

Gunned down: Van Persie has signalled his intention to leave, but Arsenal may hold him to his contract

Gunned down: Van Persie has signalled his intention to leave, but Arsenal may hold him to his contract

Gunned down: Van Persie has signalled his intention to leave, but Arsenal may hold him to his contract

Juve won the Serie A title last season for the first time since they were relegated following the Calciopoli scandal of 2006, and they want a marquee signing to spearhead their assault on Europe.

The Turin club are thought to be willing to offer Van Persie 180,000-a-week, and the 28-year-old is reportedly keen for a challenge outside the Premier League – where he has been playing since 2004.

Van Persie is keen to have his exit finalised by the time the club’s Asia tour kicks off on July 24. It is understood that he would rather not be included in the squad that flies to Malaysia as it would delay his pending move.

Champions challenge: Toure wants to see the Dutchman line-up alongside the likes of Tevez next season

Champions challenge: Toure wants to see the Dutchman line-up alongside the likes of Tevez next season

Champions challenge: Toure wants to see the Dutchman line-up alongside the likes of Tevez next season

But manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to take a lenient view on him missing the trip.

Wenger has not given up hope of persuading Van Persie to change his mind and is planning a heart-to-heart meeting with the striker when he reports for pre-season training in around 10 days.

But there is a feeling at the Emirates Stadium that Van Persie’s position is untenable after he admitted he does not agree with the club's direction.

Man of the moment: Van Persie was the Players' Player of the Year

Man of the moment: Van Persie was the Players' Player of the Year

Zlatan Ibrahimovic rejected Arsenal over trial offer

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Ibrahimovic: I once rejected Arsenal because Wenger insisted on a trial!

Zlatan Ibrahimovic turned down the chance to move to Arsenal because boss Arsene Wenger wanted the Sweden striker to go through a trial.

The AC Milan player was a teenager when he met up with Wenger in 2000 to discuss a possible move to north London.

Ibrahimovic, 30, told The Sun: 'Arsene gave me the famous red and white jersey – the No 9 shirt with Ibrahimovic on it and I was so pleased I even posed for a picture wearing it.

Swede dreams: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the world's most feared strikers

Swede dreams: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the world's most feared strikers

'It was a fantastic moment for me. Arsenal had a great team then and here was an Arsenal shirt made just for me.

'So then I waited for him to convince me that I should join Arsenal. But he didn't even try.

'He never actually made me a serious offer, it was more, “I want to see how good you are, what kind of player you are. Have a trial”.

'I couldn't believe it. I was like, “No way, Zlatan doesn't do auditions”.

'I thought “You either know me or you don't and if you don't know me you can't really want me”.

Hotshot: The AC Milan forward starred in the 4-0 drubbing of Arsenal last month

Hotshot: The AC Milan forward starred in the 4-0 drubbing of Arsenal last month

'You see, even back then I had great faith in myself, even though I was still young.

'I’m sure that some other young players might have agreed to try out
because this was the famous Arsenal team and this was Arsene Wenger.

'But I knew it wasn’t just Arsenal who wanted me — Roma wanted me and Ajax wanted me.

'So I said “No” and, in the end, I signed for Ajax instead. It was the perfect choice.

Ibrahimovic instead chose to join Ajax, where he began a run of eight consecutive league crowns, a streak that took in spells at Juventus – where two titles were later revoked because of the Calciopoli scandal – Inter, Barcelona and now Milan.

He also starred as Milan took a 4-0 lead in their Champions League tie against the Gunners last month, and scored a hat-trick last night against Palermo.

Rocking Robin: Arsenal warmed up for the second leg by beating Liverpool

Rocking Robin: Arsenal warmed up for the second leg by beating Liverpool

On the rout at the San Siro, Ibrahimovic added: 'I know it looked easy and looking back now you can even think it was easy.

'But I promise you beforehand we didn’t dare believe we would get the result that we did.

'We went into the game with a lot of respect for Arsenal, they are a world-famous team. But we did a great job. We stayed focused from the first to the 90th minute, we continued to play, we never relaxed.

'Yes, we played a great game and made Arsenal play really bad. I really enjoyed it. I felt really, really good out there — it’s easy
to feel good when a game's going that well. Afterwards we were all very,
very happy but there’s still work to do.

'It is only the first game, there is another game to come so nothing is settled yet.'

Arsenal host Milan for the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.