FOOTBALL IN BRIEF
United Costa trial bid rejected
MANCHESTER UNITED’S search for a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo hit another hitch yesterday when they were refused permission to take Brazilian starlet Douglas Costa on trial.
United wanted to see the 18-year-old attacking midfielder train in England for 20 days but his club Gremio rejected the proposal. President Duda Kroeff said: “Douglas is not at the stage where he would go through such a situation.”
The Premier League champions have already seen Real Madrid overtake them in the race to sign Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.
Milan snub Pato ‘monster offer’
AC MILAN have rejected a huge transfer bid, thought to be from Chelsea, for 19-year-old striker Alexandre Pato, vice-president Adriano Galliani said yesterday.
But Milan are determined to keep the £30m-rated Brazilian, who has reaffirmed his commitment amid rumours of interest from Stamford Bridge.
“There are no doubts regarding his future,” said Galliani. “The only offer that has arrived to our club was a monster offer from England for Alexandre Pato.”
Johnson makes £5m Brum move
BIRMINGHAM defender Roger Johnson vowed to keep them in the Premier League after completing a £5m move from Cardiff yesterday.
The 26-year-old has signed a contract until 2012 with the top-flight new boys. He said: “The aim’s to stay in the Premier League with Birmingham and hopefully I’ll have a big part to play in that.”
Pearce plays down Theo bust-up
ENGLAND Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has denied reports of a row with winger Theo Walcott ahead of today’s European Championship semi-final against hosts Sweden.
Walcott was said to be upset at being dropped earlier in the tournament, but Pearce called the story “silly”, adding: “Theo’s very professional – so am I.”