WHAT"S GOING ON IN MILAN??

Bayern Munich humiliated Italian giants AC Milan 4-1 on Wednesday as they set up an Audi Cup final date with English champions Manchester United.A double from promising youngster

Thomas Muller and a goal apiece from German international midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Frenchman Saer Sene saw Bayern to an ultimately easy victory over Milan.

Milan's lack of a big signing has led fans to protest angrily towards this. Milan are looking like a shadow of they fomer dominant selves and may face a very tough season ahead.

With Inter and Juventus making big money signing Fiorentina and Genoa also making waves in the market so Milan need to step up and do something or Milan may end up being the next Leeds Utd.

ARBELOA TO MADRID

Alvaro Arbeloa says he is "realising a dream" by returning to Real Madrid.

The defender is due to complete his switch from Liverpool on Thursday and has spoken of his delight at being back in Spain.

He is to join for a fee for £3.5m after Liverpool decided to cash in on the 26-year-old, who was in the final year of his contract.

"I am realising a dream, the one of returning to Real," Arbeloa told AS. "A member of the cantera [youth side] always carries Real in his heart. I had a bad past few days, while waiting for everything to formalise.

"Every player of my generation left saying the same, that we wanted to make our mark in the Primera Division. It was the year of presidential elections in which Florentino Perez decided to leave and Ramon Calderon arrived.

"In that board there was a certain ignorance about what the cantera had. Fabio Capello arrived with his taste for veterans."

Arbeloa insists he is returning to La Liga a better player than when he left in 2005.

This is another good signing for Madrid along with Albiol in defence. This helps sures up a defence that has many holes in it and gives them room to play with at the wingback position.

PRE SEASON RESULTS

Wins for United and Liverpool, Newcastle trumped by lower league team and Chelsea victorious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgiJMDuVKYo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etotalfootballmadness%2Ecom%2F2009%2F07%2F26%2Fman%2Dutd%2D8%2D2%2Dhangzhou%2Dgreentown%2Dvideo%2Dhighlights%2F&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lo3LW_v7JE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etotalfootballmadness%2Ecom%2F2009%2F07%2F26%2Fliverpool%2D5%2D0%2Dsingapore%2Dvideo%2Dhighlights%2F&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nxycJWXXfo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etotalfootballmadness%2Ecom%2F2009%2F07%2F25%2Fbarcelona%2D1%2D1%2Dtottenham%2Dwembley%2Dcup%2Dvideo%2F&feature=player_embedded

Enjoy the highlights

MADRID PRESEASON WINNERS

Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to make any impact against Shamrock Rovers in his first appearance for Real Madrid.

The £80million man came in for close attention from the Irish side's defenders, not all of it fitting the 'friendly' title of this match, and could not conjure any of his trademark magic before being withdrawn at half-time with the score 0-0.

He was given two chances to produce with a free-kick, but sent the first one well wide and the second into the wall.

Indeed, the best scoring chance in the first half fell to the hosts as Sean O'Connor cut in from the right-hand side before sending a low shot just wide.

Madrid looked more dangerous after the break, with Rafael van der Vaart going close twice, the second with a spectacular overhead kick, and another high-priced import, Karim Benzema striking the post in the 56th minute.

Eventually, it was Benzema who won it, latching on to a long ball to score the only goal three minutes from time.

UNITED WIN PRE SEASON OPENER

New signing Michael Owen scored on his Manchester United debut with what proved to be the winning goal as the Red Devils beat a Malaysia XI 3-2 in the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

England international Wayne Rooney and Portuguese winger Nani put the Premier League champions ahead, only for Amri Yahyah to score twice to peg them back before Owen came off the bench to net the winner after the break.

Rooney got United off to a flying start in the ninth minute after some terrible defending by Malaysia. An undemanding cross from the right hand side somehow evaded the entire Malaysian defence and Dimitar Berbatov’s shot forced a save that was parried into the path of Rooney to finish.

Twenty minutes later it was 2-0 when Portuguese winger Nani coolly slotted the ball home after a similar error by the Malaysian back line, this time from the left hand side with Rooney making the assist.

As the first half was drawing to a close, Malaysian playmaker Amri scored a magnificent lob over Edwin van der Sar, who was standing some 10 yards off his line, to give the home crowd a lift going into the break.

Malaysia started the second half they finished the first, and it was Amri who struck again when he capitalised on a terrible error from substitute goalkeeper Ben Foster after what seemed like a simple pass back from Darren Gibson. Foster let the ball go across him inside the area and Amri pounced to level the score and bring the game back to life.

However, there was more drama to come as debutant Owen scored with five minutes remaining after a neat move found the former Liverpool striker on the edge of the box. He finished the move off by slotting the ball just out of the Malaysian goalkeeper’s reach to mark his arrival in style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3yX2U7858g the link 2 highlights.

MAME A DEVIL

It was reported that the player, originally from Senegal, would join the United in January, pending a medical, and would stay in Norway until then.

A statement from the club said that Mame Biram Diouf will go through medical checks at Manchester United next week and will join the club in January.

Should the deal go through, it will do so after United manager Alex Ferguson stated he had would not make anymore signings during the summer transfer window following the arrival of Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia.

Manchester United are also tracking Gremio midfielder Douglas Costa. However, the club have been put off bidding for the Brazilian 18-year-old as the club are asking for a fee in the region of £20 million.

Another young signing Fergie is being very smart this transfer window buying talent and not stars.

HARGREAVES TO PLAY THIS SEASON?

Manchester United legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he expects Owen Hargreaves to return from double knee surgery in September.

It is a wide known fact that the England star has not featured since the start of last season following two operations to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since before his move from Bayern Munich two years ago.

Hargreaves was was ruled out of the current Far East tour as he continues his rehabilitation, although it seems Hargreaves will join up with his team-mates when they head to Munich for the Audi Cup at the end of the month.

This will bolster an already packed United central midfeild which people have seemed to forget about. United will need all the help we can get as this season will be a very trying one.

DOWNING A VILLAN

Aston Villa have today landed their first major swoop of the summer transfer window, and snapped up England left-winger Stewart Downing from recently relegated Middlesbrough.

The fee is believed to be in the region of £12 million, with £10 million of that amount being paid up front, and a further £2 million to follow in instalments based on appearances made.

The player was delighted to have made the switch, telling Villa's official website, "It's certainly been a summer of speculation for me but I have tried to switch off and get a good break after my injury.

Villa have seemingly got there guy after chasing Downing for over a year now. This will solve the left foot problem the Villans usually face and maybe Young will start to play through the middle

NO MORE

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has announced that the club’s pre-season spending and transfer activities are over. He insisted that it is the end of the club’s business in the transfer window, and that there will be no more new arrivals at the club.

Sir Alex, with £80million to spend following Cristiano Ronaldo’s sale to Real Madrid seemed certain to add to the signings of Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan but the legendary manager has decided that his current squad is good enough to challenge for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.

It has been said that new striker, Michael Owen, 29, will take over Cristiano Ronaldo’s No 7 shirt and his place in an attacking line-up completed by Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

However, it is believed that the arrival of Owen will not hamper the emergence of rising stars Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda.

Obertan A Devil

Manchester United are closing in on promising Bordeaux winger Gabriel Obertan. The 20-year-old is having a medical ahead of a probable move to Old Trafford.

United look to have won the race for the France Under-21 star, who has been also been linked with Inter Milan, AC Milan and Arsenal.

Reports in France say a £3million fee has been agreed and Obertan will sign a four-year contract.

This means we now have two very young and talented wingers in Obertan and Tosic who had a very good EURO U-21. Let's hope they are furture world beaters.

Onyewu Signs for Milan

Milan have completed the shock free transfer signing of Standard Liege centre-back Oguchi Onyewu, the Italian giants have announced.

The 27-year-old impressed during the recent Confederations Cup for the United States, but it comes as something of a surprise that the Rossoneri have moved to snap him up.

I never saw this coming as Milan have never before mentioned interest in the player but he is young and strong just what Milan need for an AGING defence.

Obertan To United?

Manchester United are leading the race to sign Girondins Bordeaux starlet Gabriel Obertan, according to the French Ligue 1 club.

The 20-year-old midfielder is regarded as one of France's brightest prospects and has been linked with a host of top clubs, including Inter Milan, AC Milan, Chelsea and Arsenal.

But Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud claims that the Red Devils are closest to signing the France U21 international.

He was awarded the Most Valuable Player award at last month's Toulon International Youth Tournament.

YURI N LONDON

Chelsea FC have completed the signing of Russian football star Yuri Zhirkov for a fee reportedly aroung 18.5 Million pounds.

The 25 year old signs a four year deal at around 80,000 pounds per week. Yuir can play a very good left eing-back or any explosive left wing.

I am pretty sure this signing will solve Chelsea's left wing problems and with Joe Cole always injured this is looking like a signing worth the money, plus he is 25 and in his football prime.

ARE THEY MAD??

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he's spoken to Inter Milan midfielder Luis Figo about playing a final season at White Hart Lane.

Why on earth would you buy Figo at 37 years old and you do not give Dos Santos a chance? I mean loaning Dos Santos to Ipswich isnt really giving the boy a chance to prove himself, a guy that was on the brink of greatest at mighty Barcelona.

Harry Redknapp has never really been one of my favourite managers I think he is an overrated English manager as most of them are.

If Spurs sign Figo( no disrespect) I think it is a step backwards.

Michael Owen has been confirmed as a Manchester United player. The striker has signed a two-year deal to play at Old Trafford and no transfer was paid as the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward was a free agent.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson happily confirmed the deal saying, "Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question. Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish"

Owen himself was similarly happy, and said: "I had just begun to talk to other Clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me. I agreed without a moment's thought.

The soon to be 30 year old hopefully will find the form that made him a world class foward four years ago.

OWEN TO UNITED

The striker will then have a full medical at Carrington on Friday and could put the finishing touches to a pay-as-you-play deal as early as next week.

The England international is without a club following the expiry of his contract with Newcastle United and it appeared only Stoke City and Hull City were interested in offering him a contract.
But now it appears Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to snap up a player who is fourth in the all-time goalscorers list for his country.

To me this is a gamble on a player who is injury 24/7 but on a pay as you play contract i guess it isnt that bad. We still need a front line guy to start with Wayne because I see Owen as a surplus guy. Klaas Huntelaar is still available come one Fergie snatch him up quick.

BENZ A MARENGUE

Karim Benzema is poised to become the latest big-name arrival at Real Madrid after Lyon accepted a bid from the Spanish side for the highly-rated France international.

The 21-year-old is set to join Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in signing a six-year contract at the Bernabeu after his French employers agreed to a 35m euro (£29.7m) approach from Madrid, who with this deal will see their summer spending spree pass the 200m euro mark.