Beckham: I'd consider a return to England

(CNN)-Former Manchester United star David Beckham has surprisingly revealed that he would consider a return to the English Premier League.

The 34-year-old had previously insisted that he would never join a domestic rival of his old club, who he left in 2003 to sign for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The midfielder then moved to the United States to team up with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and last season had a loan spell with Italy's AC Milan to keep alive his international career.

With Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti now in England as manager of Chelsea, Beckham has been linked with a return to his homeland.
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"I would definitely consider it," said Beckham, who is determined to play at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

"Never say never. When I left United, I said I would never want to play for another English club. My heart was in Manchester, and I couldn't see myself wearing another shirt in the Premiership and playing against United. Now I wouldn't rule it out."

However, Beckham revealed that he still hoped to return to Milan at the end of the MLS season.

"Obviously Milan expressed that they want me to go back, so I don't see any reason why that would change," he said. "We'll have to wait and see. I hope to be going back there."

Beckham's stint with Milan caused a rift with his Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan, who questioned the former England captain's commitment to the club in a forthcoming book called "The Beckham Experiment" by Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl.

The duo have had clear-the-air talks since Beckham's return to training this week, having been on holiday following England's World Cup qualifiers last month.

Beckham met with U.S. national captain Donovan and club manager Bruce Arena.

"I'm not going to talk about what was said. That was between me, Landon and the manager but we had a good talk," he told reporters. "It's finished, and now we move on. I'm not going to talk about it anymore."

Beckham also insisted that he will see out the rest of his five-year contract with the Galaxy, which expires in 2012 and allows him to spend the off-season with a European club.

"I intend to stay until the end of my contract and maybe further," he said. "I've always said that. I've always said, even when I went to Milan, that I'm committed to the Galaxy and to the MLS, and that hasn't changed."

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Owen: I'm fit for United

Manchester United's Michael Owen wants to shrug off the injury-prone tag he feels he has unfairly been given.

Owen will get the chance to spearhead United's attack this season following Sir Alex Ferguson's surprise statement that he will not be doing any more transfer business this summer.

He will do so wearing the number seven shirt vacated by Cristiano Ronaldo and accompanied by a great deal of scepticism about his general fitness, a situation Fabio Capello has reflected on more than one occasion has kept Owen out of England contention.

Yet the former Liverpool star does not feel the facts bear out such opinions.

Although Owen made only 33 and 32 appearances in the second half of a four-year deal at Newcastle United, he believes there is little wrong with his body.

He feels his cruciate knee ligament injury was caused as a direct result of rushing back to action too quickly from a broken metatarsal in order to appear at the 2006 World Cup.

"It does irritate me that so many people have doubts," he said.

"But if there is one thing I am angered by, the injury thing would be it.

"There is no doubt I have had injuries in my career. But there is a long list of players that have had a broken metatarsal.

"I was foolish trying to rush back for the World Cup and my leg had just come out of plaster.

"But I played 33 and 32 games in the last two years in a team that was not in Europe and did not go on a decent cup run. Still I was continually labelled injury-prone, which gets up my nose.

"I am 29 and have played over 500 games for club and country. That says it all."

What Owen does accept the need to prove is the retention of ability that has made him only the fourth striker in England history to score 40 goals for his country.

"In certain parts, people do have a justification to have a go at me," he said.

"I didn't set the world alight in the last year at Newcastle. That is no-one's fault but mine. We were not playing well as a team and I wasn't doing my bit either."

His observation clearly didn't put Ferguson off signing a player he spent so many years trying to stop, but the United manager does not feel Owen was helped by the handling he received during the early years.

Ferguson has still not forgotten sending Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis away to Malaysia in 1997 as part of an England Youth team which also included Owen.

The United manager noted that while his players returned to a six-week break, their young team-mate was unleashed on the Premier League by Liverpool and followed up with his momentous appearance at the World Cup in France 98, when his career was really ignited.

"I remember it well," said Ferguson.

"I remember saying at the time it was unfair to have that strain and intensity of matches at big tournaments, one summer after another, with no summer break."

Ferguson freely admits that while he monitored Owen during the final year of his contract at Newcastle, knowing the Chester-born star could leave St James' Park for nothing at the season's end, he probably would not have swooped had Karim Benzema not been caught up in the whirlwind that has become Real Madrid's summer spending spree.

However, once Benzema opted to link up with Ronaldo and Kaka, Ferguson went for Owen.

And, while plenty of supporters have their doubts, he is convinced the move will be a fruitful one for all parties.

"Michael gives us experience in the penalty box, which is vital," said Ferguson.

"He has always had that little knack of losing defenders in the last third.

"I know he will score a lot of goals for us. He has been great at that for years."

Fellow new signing Antonio Valencia, meanwhile, is adamant he was not signed to replace Ronaldo.

"I have mentioned this a few times in the past when I first spoke to Manchester United it was never said that I was coming to replace Cristiano Ronaldo," he said.

"Obviously he did very well here because he is a great player but I am here to do the things that I do well.

"I have got a real desire to succeed and I will never compare myself to him."

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Tevez completes move to Man City

(BBC) - Manchester City have completed the signing of ex-Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez for a fee believed to be £25.5m and on a five-year deal.

The Argentine, 25, left Old Trafford last month after rejecting their offer of turning his loan spell with them into a permanent switch.

Tevez said: "City came with a very good proposal and ambition to become one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"It was an easy decision and I am happy to be here."

Tevez was mobbed by joyous City fans on his arrival at Eastlands.

"It's terrific news," said City boss Mark Hughes. "He's an international of the highest class who possesses all the attributes to help drive us forward.

"This is yet another deal that shows the commitment of the owner to make this club the very best it can be."

Tevez, who will wear the number 32 shirt at Eastlands, spent a season with West Ham before joining Manchester United on an extended loan deal in 2007.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he had texted Tevez and attempted to speak to the Argentine about staying at Old Trafford but had received no response.

"I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time," countered Tevez, who also denied any deal with City had been agreed in January 2009.

"The only time he talked to me was after a match against Roma to discuss a situation about going to play for Argentina.

"It doesn't seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club. It doesn't seem there is a line of communication."

But Tevez added: "I would like to thank David Gill (United chief executive), Alex Ferguson and the club's fan base, but this is a new life for me and I am happy to be at Manchester City.

His move to Old Trafford ended a long-running saga following complications with West Ham's registration of the player.

The Premier League has ratified all the paperwork regarding his move to Eastlands having been assured City have sole registration of the striker.

"Money was not the most important thing about my move," continued Tevez.

"I have a coach who wants me and a good fan-base and environment around me. I'm excited about working with Mark Hughes and building a good relationship with him."

Tevez, the only player to win the South American player of the year award three seasons running, won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina in Athens in 2004.

He helped United win successive Premier League titles, becoming a crowd favourite as he scored 34 goals in 99 league and cup starts, and has now targeted helping bring the title to Eastlands.

"The objective is to win the league, that is what we have talked about and I'm here to make my contribution to the cause on a daily basis," he said.

"I'm here to win things and I make that pledge now to my team-mates and our fans.

"I will give everything to help City become one of the biggest and most important clubs in England - and win some trophies.

"But it is very important to remember that I am just one more player to add to the strength of the squad, one more player working with the coach and my new team-mates to help us win trophies for City."

Tevez will become one of a select band to have joined both Manchester clubs and he could re-visit his former club at the Old Trafford derby on 19 September.

"He is not only outstanding technically but he is a reliable goal scorer and someone who will contribute fully to the team ethic," Hughes added.

"He gives us another exciting, attacking dimension."

Tevez scored 15 goals last season but was often on the bench for key games and was wary of not getting enough first-team football ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

However, he rejected suggestions that he had been given guarantees of first-team football at City.

"This will be a very challenging season for me," he said. "I have no assurances about my place and must win the respect of my team-mates as I fight to be first choice.

"Then it is the World Cup next summer. I will work hard to achieve these goals."

Manchester City's summer spending so far has seen them sign striker Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn for £18m and Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry for £12m.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is also in talks over a move to Eastlands.

But a proposed bid for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o fell through - even though reports suggested the club was willing to make the Cameroon international the highest-paid player in the world, earning £250,000 per week.

There have also been rumours that Chelsea captain John Terry is on Manchester City's wish-list, although Stamford Bridge boss Carlo Ancelotti insists the England defender is not for sale at any price.

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