I want Fabregas to stay: Wenger
LONDON: Arsene Wenger insisted again on Friday that he wants unsettled Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas to resist Barcelona’s attentions and stay with the club even if the Spaniard will miss the start of the new season. Barcelona’s latest attempt to lure Fabregas to the Nou Camp was rejected on Friday with Sky Sports claiming Arsenal were standing firm on the £40 million (45 million euro) price tag they have placed on the midfielder.European champions Barcelona had already failed with an offer of around £30 million (34.4 million euro, and an improved reported bid of 29 million euros plus six million euros in future add-ons has also failed to tempt the Gunners. Wenger told www.arsenal.com that he had left Fabregas out of the squad to travel to Lisbon for Saturday’s friendly against Benfica. “I don’t think Fabregas will be ready to start the season because he has been out for a long time and has had no games,” said Wenger of the player’s hamstring injury. “I do not want to speak about the transfer of Fabregas because I have done that three years now in every press conference so I don’t think there is any more need to add something. “I love Fabregas and I want him to stay, that is basically it. Everybody is free to think what they want. We cannot stop people raising questions.” (Agencies)
Colombia asserts U20 WC claims
BOGOTA: Host nation Colombia asserted its claim to being among the favorites to win the Under-20 World Cup, defeating South Korea 1-0 on Friday to finish atop its group with a perfect record. Colombia finished with nine points in Group A, ahead of France, who defeated Mali to clinch second place with six points, with South Korea advancing as one of the best third-place teams with three points. Mali was eliminated. Two other teams advanced on Friday to the round-of-16 knock-out stage. Portugal defeated New Zealand 1-0 to clinch first place in Group B, ahead of Cameroon in second on four points after a 1-0 victory over Uruguay. The loss eliminated Uruguay, a nation that had become accustomed to tournament success in recent times. Group play will wrap up on Saturday with Australia facing Spain and Ecuador playing Costa Rica in Group C. In Group D, Saudi Arabia will play Nigeria to decide first and second, while Croatia is against Guatemala. (Agencies)
Milan edge out Inter in Super Cup
BEIJING: AC Milan earned the early bragging rights by beating city rivals Inter Milan 2-1 in the Italian Super Cup played in Beijing. Milan, who ended Inter’s five-year reign as Italian champions by winning the scudetto in May, came from behind thanks to ex-Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring on the hour and Kevin-Prince Boateng netting nine minutes later. Wesley Sneijder, heavily linked in the media with a move to Manchester United, grabbed the opener for Inter on 22 minutes. The defeat was an inauspicious start for new Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who replaced Leonardo during the close season.