Manchester City striker, Craig Bellamy, could be in trouble with the police after he threw a punch at a Manchester United fan following their derby defeat the hands of the Premier League Champions.

The fan some how got onto the pitch after the game and confronted Bellamy after he celebrated in front of United fans following his second goal that he scored in the 90th minute. Bellamy also instigated chaotic scenes when he should have been sent off in the first half for a stamp on United’s Anderson that could have left the player with a broken leg.

A police spokesman said: “At the end of the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, a member of the public ran on to the pitch, and was detained by police and security staff. During this time, there was an altercation between the man and a player from Manchester City FC.”

“No formal complaint has been made by either party but police are continuing to make inquiries.”

Never the less Bellamy may now be punished by the Football Association over the incident. The FA can review tapes of the game and if the stamp on the player is deemed to warrant a red card then he could be banned for three games.

Although the incident after the game is now a police matter, it may well turn out that the FA ask Manchester City to explain why their player could not control himself and also why he just did not leave the field of play and ignore the confrontation.

It seems that bad publicity now wants to surround City like the plague and the club will have to be careful that they do not get disciplined further in the weeks coming up.

With the Emanuel Adebayor incidents having just been dealt with Mark Hughes needs to be careful that his club do not become the new hate figures of the Premier League. At the current rate they will have no fans left outside their own supporters and people are already saying that the club deserve every thing that is heading in their direction.

It is fair enough to say that the fan should not have even been on the pitch in the first place but the point is that Bellamy should have known better and if the referee had been paying attention earlier on in the game then the Welshman would have been down in the dressing room in the first half and the incident would never have happened.

With former Anfield Ace Michael Owen having signed for Manchester United, plus Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano’s reluctance to commit to the club, Liverpool fans are suffering from a bad dose of treason this summer.

What a difference a year makes. Last summer, Rafael Benitez threw Alonso’s future at the club up in the air by going public with his pursuit of then Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, with the Spaniard being touted for sale to fund the deal.

With Alonso coming very close to sealing a move to Juventus, both midfielders were part of a long transfer saga which was only exceeded by Real Madrid’s annual quest to prize Cristiano Ronaldo away from Old Trafford.

After Madrid finally landed the Portuguese star already this summer, attention has swung to the best of the rest of midfielders in the Premier League, and unfortunately for Liverpool, speculation continues to surround their Spanish-speaking central pair.

Both Barcelona and free-spending Madrid have made no secret of their desire to bring Argentine Mascherano and Alonso to La Liga respectively. But with neither player rebuff any proposal, loyalty issues once again arise.

There have been suggestions that Alonso has still not forgiven Benitez for his shabby treatment last summer, when the midfielder felt unwanted and unloved as he was almost forced into a move to Juventus. But a deal for Barry, who has since joined Manchester City, never materialised and Alonso stayed at Anfield and produced his finest displays in a Liverpool shirt to date last season.

Whilst some believe Alonso is within his right to hold a grudge against compatriot Benitez for his lack of faith, but in retrospect, his boss may have done him a favour.

Suppose it was not a lack of faith, but the kick up the behind Alonso well and truly needed. It’s easy to forget that the season prior to last summer, the Spanish midfielder had his poorest season in English football, scoring just two goals in an injury hit season.

Injuries are a part of the game players must be prepared to deal with mentally, and it appeared that Alonso lacked passion and determination upon returning from the serious metatarsal injury which disrupted his season. Determination is key to winning the hearts of Liverpool fans, just look at the much-loved Dirk Kuyt.

However, the point is, Alonso didn’t do himself justice in the 2007/08 season, and with Barry forming a formidable partnership with Steven Gerrard for England, Benitez saw the potential. Something had to give, and on the back of a poor season, the boss saw Alonso as a scapegoat towards landing Barry.

After neither move came about, Alonso started the season a Liverpool player again and signalled his intent to prove his worth early on with some ferocious displays and the fine form continued throughout the season as Liverpool totalled their highest points tally in their Premier League history.

Now the tides have turned, and it appears Alonso is the one in control of his destiny, as his performances last season have warranted interest from Europe’s most talked about club this summer. But before Alonso sets his sights on the Bernabeu, he should take a look back at last summer with thanks, rather than resentment for Benitez.

The Liverpool manager brought out the world class player in Alonso once again, as his determination returned while he vowed to prove his importance to the Liverpool team. If it wasn’t for the wake up call, Alonso could be plying his trade for the rather less glamorous Juventus, and he certainly wouldn’t have a £35m price tag which is reportedly the club’s minimum asking price.

As for Mascherano, the little Argentine has had his head easily turned by rumours of interest from European champions Barcelona. It’s little over two years since Benitez pounced to rescue the 25-year-old from his nightmare at West Ham.

The tough midfielder joined the Hammers with Carlos Tevez in 2006 and while his compatriot basked in the glory of almost single headedly saving the club from the drop, Mascherano was inexplicably left to rot in the reserves.

Benitez saw the bargain potential however, and duly snapped him up initially on loan before his incredible displays earned him an £18.6m move from his owners Media Sports Investments. Since then Mascherano has established himself as a genuine world class midfield performer, and it is little wonder that a club of Barcelona’s stature are attempting to sound out a switch.

The Argentine should be flattered, but no more. Should he knock on the manager’s door asking for permission to speak to the Catalan club, Benitez should give him a stark reminder of where he was in January 2007.

But where has the loyalty in football gone? Michael Owen stood with a huge grin on his face as he posed during his unveiling as a Manchester United player, seemingly without a care in the world of his illustrious past at Anfield.

He lost the hearts of some fans when he left the club for Madrid in 2004, but lost their respect for ever by signing that contract. Owen has turned his back on the club twice now, and if Alonso and Mascherano truly wish to go down as Liverpool legend in years to come, they should stop flirting with Europe’s elite and get back to perusing their rivals for that elusive Premier League title.

It’s a great sentiment Argentinean striker Carlos Tevez is trying to express but will Manchester United fans agree? Out of contract Tevez is being seriously eyed up by great rivals Manchester City and, by all accounts, he is about to make the move.

But Tevez has asked supporters not to turn against him when and if he hops across the city because he believes none of it is his fault. He’s quite right and it would be great if Manchester United fans agreed. Sadly, football isn’t so forgiving and Tevez can still expect plenty of aggravation as Manchester City square up to be a considerable force in the Premier League.

That’s not to say we can’t have sympathy in private for the plight in which Tevez has found himself. By all accounts, Sir Alex Ferguson told Tevez that he could not join Liverpool. Tevez can actually do what he wants, given he is out of contract with Manchester United and a totally free agent. But Tevez says he has greater respect for the Red Devils than to join their great rivals and would not do this to the fans.

The way things are going, Manchester City will soon replace Liverpool at the top of Manchester United’s hate list. The club is really going places now it has the cash backing and is slowly building a team to reckon with. At least manager Mark Hughes is thoroughly delighted with the progress being made.

He has his sights very firmly set on Tevez and on Samuel Eto’o and it’s likely we can expect an announcement on at least one of them in the next few days. Many Manchester United fans would have wanted Tevez to stay with them after he was offered a very late last-minute deal to remain at Old Trafford. By this time, however, it was too late. Tevez felt, and still feels, that he has been pushed out and has no choice but to leave.

He told a national Sunday newspaper; “If I have to play for Manchester City, I don’t think the United fans will feel I am a traitor. They have to remember that at least, as far as I know, I have been thrown out of the club and I have to study the best offers available. I gave everything to Manchester United. I don’t deserve the way things have ended up.”

Sadly, Mr Tevez, that’s life at Manchester United as many players before you have found out to their detriment. Fall out with Sir Alex Ferguson, and you will be shown the door, no matter how good you are on the pitch. Tevez felt aggrieved at his treatment and spoke to the press about it. Old Trafford stay over, even though there was a last-minute olive branch with the 25.5 million deal offer.

Manchester United will have a fight on their hands if they are to sign Brazilian winger, Douglas Costa. Costa was one of the first names to be linked with a move to Old Trafford since a bid of £80 million was accepted by the English champions for their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Costa, 18, is said to be as good as Ronaldo was at the same age. It is a very shrewd move on the part of Sir Alex Ferguson who clearly wants to try and recreate the same thing that he managed to pull off with Ronaldo. However, the problem is that Ronaldo was a once in a generation player and now Costa’s club, Gremio, are digging their heels in over the transfer.

Gremio’s president said: “I received a phone call from someone working for Manchester United. He asked for Douglas to be released [for a trial] and said that he would not play, but that they wanted to see him in action. I said to them that this will not happen.”

“Douglas is not at a stage where he would go through such a situation. He is an established player, he is not a stranger. He has no need to face tests at European clubs.”

This will most likely come as bad news to all United fans who would have been hoping that they could have got one or two deals sewn up to allow the best chance for a new squad to gel before the new season. The problem is that United obviously don’t think that Costa is were a proper gamble e.g. paying a full amount, until they have had some practical experience with the player.

There are also stories starting to appear that Real Madrid have moved even closer to poaching Wigan winger, Antonio Valencia, from beneath the noses of the three time European champions as a deal for Valencia had been thought to be a near certainty.

There is no doubt surrounding the fact that United have a lot of work to do as they have lost the services of some very influential players so far in the summer transfer window. The problem at Old Trafford seems to be getting everything down in concrete. A lot of links and rumours are just this and at the moment there is no materialisation that the fans will be hoping for.

If United don’t take any lessons from Madrid then they are set to miss out on a number of players that they would otherwise like to sign. They need to flex a little bit of financial muscle as Sir Alex Ferguson will quickly come to realise that if he wants particular players to make up the gap that has just been opened then he will have to pay for them.

Costa moving to Old Trafford would be a terrific bit of business for both parties but because there is so much fuss about wrapping young players in cotton wool in the modern game it means that Gremio will make it a lot harder for United to negotiate.

Premier League officials have said they will monitor any move that Carlos Tevez makes away from Old Trafford in order to inspect any irregularities that his move brings up. Tevez recently stated that he would not be staying at Manchester United, which has opened up a potentially slippery bidding war for his services.

It is a positive move on behalf of the Premier League who clearly don’t want a repeat of any third party agreements that meant his short career at West Ham United ended in controversy. Sheffield United were relegated in place of West Ham and it was Tevez who scored the goal, which sent them down. The Sheffield side decided to launch a court case, that was only resolved earlier this season.

The problem that Tevez has had to deal with ever since he came to England is the fact that his agent was the person who held the rights to his playing career. Kia Joorabchian is the player’s adviser and holds his economic rights, meaning that for any club trying to sign him would not approach the club Tevez was playing for but this man.

It is this point, which makes any move Tevez has stink of illegality and how it ended up that someone else and not another club could control his finances is amazing. Manchester United paid Joorabchian over £10 million to have Tevez on loan for two seasons and he asked for over £25 million to make the transfer a permanent one, with the rights being handed over.

Now it has emerged that Manchester City or Liverpool will probably be the sides that pay this man what he is asking for, which is an amount that seems to be verging on the extortionate. Tevez would be well advised to get rid of this guy as soon as possible so that everything in his football life can become black and white as soon as is possible.

Tevez is a very genuine and honest man that does not seem to know what the word egotistic means. He deserves a lot better than having to be controlled by one other person that does not appear to know the ins and outs of football law in a variety of countries.

West Ham ended up having to pay over £25 million themselves for their decision to take up an offer that would bring Tevez to Upton Park and the current agreement that he has worked out with his adviser clearly seems to bring more trouble than it is worth.

If you went and asked Tevez all he would want now is to play football and be paid in an uncomplicated fashion for doing what he loves. It is very doubtful that he would have enjoyed all of the legal fuss that has surrounded him since he moved to England and West Ham would probably say that they would not do the same thing again if they were given another chance. Hopefully once his future club has been sorted out, all parties can settle down and forget about what has been a messy last few seasons.

The future of Argentine striker, Carlos Tevez, has been settled once and for all after Manchester United announced the player would not be staying at Old Trafford. Tevez had been thought to want to stay at the club and after a £25.5 million offer was made to make his loan deal in Manchester permanent, the player decided to turn any deal down and move on.

It will come as a bitter blow to many United fans that supported Tevez through the last few months of his United career. He was often in and out of the side and frequently voiced his frustration at the manager not allowing him an extended run. He was also said to be increasingly upset by the lack of urgency from United in getting his contract sorted out at an earlier date.

Had the club done this then Tevez may have been willing to stay on. However, he feels that the move to sign him up has only come as a result of losing Cristiano Ronaldo and the fact that United had so much free cash to spend. Otherwise it is unlikely that they would have bothered arm wrestling over terms for the Argentine and this is why he feels it is better to move on.






A United statement read: “Disappointingly, his advisors informed the club that he does not wish to continue playing for Manchester United. The club thanks Carlos for his services over the last two seasons and wishes him good luck for the future.”

There will now be a few teams sniffing around Tevez like hungry sharks. Manchester City are said to be happy to pay the fee and double the player’s wages in order to get him into their side, but there is also strong interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid. United would probably prefer him to go to the latter and they will be hoping that the Spanish club can whip up some cash from out of nowhere and steal him away from beneath the nose of any other English club who want him.

The impact of Tevez’s departure on the United side remains to be seen but they will have a difficult job trying to find a replacement that demonstrates a similar work ethic and energy that Tevez displayed in every single game he played. He was not the most high quality player in the game at United but he worked tirelessly and would sweat blood for his side. These are virtues that will stand him in good stead and whomever he goes to will have a terrific little player on their books.

We will have to wait for a little while this summer to find out his next destination because the player is representing his country in some South American World Cup qualifiers. The fact that Tevez can have a dodgy end of season spell at United and still walk into an Argentina World Cup squad tells you everything that you need to know about this little mean. United now need to start working on finding an attacking player that can replace two immense ones that they have just let walk out of the club, easier said than done.

Who next at Manchester United? That’s the question on everyone’s lips as the final touches are put to Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking 80 million pound move to Real Madrid. And, according to the Old Trafford owners, there’s going to be absolutely no problem with finance whatsoever. Lucky Sir Alex Ferguson can do what he wants for the good of the team and the club and has total control. Hang on. Let’s rewind a second. This statement made on behalf of the Glazier family was in relation to the Ronaldo deal.
First of all, as we all suspected, negotiations for the Brazilian star started last season when a pre-contract was already made. Not much of a surprise there. Secondly, Sir Alex Ferguson was not forced to sell him. Ronaldo wanted to go to Real Madrid and Sir Alex raised no objections. Ronaldo had given six good years to the club and it was time to let him go.

Money or debts had absolutely nothing to do with the decision, a spokesman is stressing. “The idea that Manchester United is motivated by a debt burden is not true. It’s not an issue,” said the spokesman. “Ronaldo decided after six years that it was time to move on and the manager said okay. Sir Alex is in total control of his squad. He is empowered to make whatever decisions he thinks are in the best interests of Manchester United.”

Now, there’s no doubt these words are true – when it comes to selling a player. Even more so when there is a fee of 80 million pounds involved. Sir Alex Ferguson is a shrewd man and he probably realised there was absolutely no point in battling this one out. But when it comes to buying in new players, is he really going to be in charge? The next few weeks will tell.

All eyes will be on who Manchester United are eyeing up and, by all accounts, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is top of their list. The asking price? Around 90 million pounds which would once again smash the world record of the Ronaldo deal, which smashed the world record of Kaka, which smashed the world record of Zidane and so on.

Apart from the big question of where it’s all going to stop, it will be interesting to see how much “control of his squad” Sir Alex Ferguson really does have. With 80 million pounds back into the Manchester United coffers, just how much will the American owners really be willing to spend?

Franck Ribery is likely to be a player just too far and with Real Madrid’s desire to build a team of greats, they might well throw their name into the hat too. What Manchester United fans can expect, however, is a few other acquisitions. Samuel Eto’o is being tipped to replace Ronaldo in a move away from Barcelona and it’s pretty certain that Wigan winger Antonio Valencia will be secured shortly following several earlier cash bids being put on the table. A fee of 16 million pounds for the Ecuador striker seems much more reasonable than the 90 million pounds for Ribery, no matter what his undoubted talents.

It’s quite likely that Sir Alex Ferguson won’t go for Ribery in any event if that is how much he is going to cost. Manchester United want to build a good team but perhaps have their feet more firmly on the ground than Real Madrid who are entering into the world of fantasy football. Star players usually have a star ego and one wrong purchase can split a squad, not make it, not to mention breaking the bank.