'Godfather' Maldini forced me out of Milan- Taribo West

The retired Nigeria defender is very critical of his time at AC Milan, claiming he was not chosen despite being better than his Italian counterparts

Former AC Milan defender Taribo West believes he was better than club legend Paolo Maldini, but was treated unfairly by the Italian side.

In one season with the Serie A outfit, the former Nigeria international appeared in just four games, despite his self-proclaimed status as the club's best defender.

West remains bitter about his time at San Siro and has suggested that his short spell with the Rossoneri was a failure because of Maldini's "godfather" status.

"There were three of us, but the coach would pick the Italians even though I was clearly the best," he told Supersport.com.

"In 2000, I played the African Nations Cup with Nigeria and when I returned Maldini was injured. I played the games in his place but I did not get very many.

"I was told clearly that nobody could force out Maldini because he was a godfather in the club."

West was forced to take a seat on the bench while watching Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta start regularly, which the former Inter defender claims was because of their Italian backgrounds.

"Because I had a good relationship with [Inter president Massimo Moratti], I called him to tell him what was going on," he continued. "He told me that at AC Milan this was a normal thing.

"No one could take the place of Maldini. I was in shock. At the time they told so many lies about me because they wanted me out.

"During the four games I played, I was always the best player on the field, yet my contract was not renewed."


Information from goal.com was used in this report.

Bale: Ronaldo is the boss

The Wales international has nothing but praise for the prolific attacker and has stressed that his hefty price tag will not affect him.
Gareth Bale has stated that the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid was one of the reasons why he joined the Liga giants and added that he's looking forward to playing alongside the Portugal star.

The 24-year-old signed a six-year deal with the Blancos on Monday to complete his €100 million move from Tottenham and he's keen to team up with the former Manchester United star.

"For me Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world," Bale said at a press conference. "His presence played a big part in my decision to join Madrid. It will be an honour to play alongside him.

"What about penalties and free-kicks? Ronaldo is the boss here at Madrid. Let's see what he says.

"I don't need to help Ronaldo to be the best in the world - he has already shown it."

The Welshman then went on to stress that his hefty price-tag does not put any extra pressure on him and added that he's determined to help Madrid win silverware.

"The transfer fee is not something that affects me. It's something between Madrid and Spurs. It only brings extra pressure if I want it to.

"The biggest pressure here is to help Madrid win trophies. I want to win silverware here and help the club win the Champions League."

Bale could make his official Madrid debut away against Villarreal on September 13 after the international break.

Information from goal.com was used in this report.

Liverpool to consider Suarez sale

The wantaway striker is set to make his first-team return against Melbourne Victory, but his manager says the Arsenal target could leave if the Reds receive a suitable offer

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has conceded that Luis Suarez could leave the club if a suitable offer is received.

The striker touched down in Melbourne on Sunday ahead of his first involvement in the Reds' pre-season tour after being afforded additional time off following June's Confederations Cup.

Suarez made his desire to leave Liverpool public last month - with Arsenal set to test Liverpool's resolve with a £40 million offer after seeing an initial £35m bid rejected - and Rodgers has admitted he cannot rule out an Anfield exit for the Uruguayan.

"The reality is that he's a player who is very much valued at Liverpool and unless there's any sort of offer that comes in that is anywhere near his value, there's nothing to consider, and we haven't had that," Rodgers told the club's official website.
"As we've always been as a club, I'm quite relaxed about it.

"We'll chat to him at some stage, like we do with all the players, but he's back, he's in great spirits and he's obviously an integral part of the group.
"You could see his closeness with his team-mates last night when they were all seeing him for the first time in a number of weeks.

"He'll join training today [Sunday] with all the other players and over the course of these next few weeks we'll communicate."

Information from Goal.com was used in this report.

We owed Keshi 4 months' salary - NFF

 The Nigeria Football Federation has admitted to owing Super Eagles’ handler Stephen Keshi four months’ salary, a total of twenty million naira only.

The chairman of the Technical committee of the Federation, Barrister Chris Green admitted that the coach is yet to be paid any salary since he lifted the AFCON trophy in South Africa.

"Yes, we owe Keshi about four months’ salary. It is also true that we have not paid him since the AFCON feat in South Africa. However, we have structured our national team in a manner in which coaches get daily allowance, match bonus, and free feeding while they are in camp. But we are working round the clock to ensure that by the end of this month Keshi’s outstanding are settled,"  he said.

Keshi is paid five million naira monthly by the federation.

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Odemwingie to 'best' Ejide

Well, love is in the air for regular second choice goalkeeper of the
Super Eagle, Austin Ejide as he walks down the aisle with his
heartthrob today.
We say congratulations while praying there wouldn't be any twitter war
after the wedding as our dear controversial player, Osaze Odemwingie
who announced it, is the 'bestman' of Ejide.

Milan hint at El Shaarawy sale

Having closed the door firmly on the sale of Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini, AC Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani is to hold talks with Stephan El Shaarawy this week to discuss his future with the Rossoneri.

The Italian forward, who only extended his contract until 2018 in February, is attracting attention from numerous top European clubs and Galliani has so far refused to categorically rule out the sale of the 20-year-old, who is valued at €40 million.

With French clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco reportedly interested, and Manchester City also being linked with every top striker in Europe, Galliani expects El Shaarawy in his office as soon as he returns from the Confederations Cup to clarify the situation.

"I’m going to talk to him on Tuesday," he told Sky Sports Italia before suggesting that a repeat of the double sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to PSG last summer could be on the cards for yet another Rossoneri fans’ favourite. "We’ve got lots of players and before we can buy anybody, we’ve got to sell."

El Shaarawy scored 16 goals last season, 12 of which came in the first 14 games of the season. After netting in the Milan city derby on February 24, he failed to find the back of the net again until scoring in the penalty shoot-out of the third-place play-off at the Confederations Cup on Sunday, but that drought does not appear to have put off potential suitors.

That derby goal was the only time he scored since Balotelli arrived from Manchester City, leading to suggestions the pair are incompatible in the same side and, with Galliani announcing that Balotelli “absolutely cannot be sold”, El Shaarawy is beginning to look surplus to requirements at the San Siro.

Information from soccernet.com used in this report.