Footy Speak

There will be no action this weekend due to an International break. But before going on this week’s break, Arsenal’s defeat through Manchester United is still afresh. There have been accusations from Arsene Wenger and Arshavin that Manchester United played anti-football, to break Arsenal’s free flow passing football. To add to Wenger’s frustration, Eduardo was banned for two matches by Uefa for diving in a Champions League qualifier match against Celtic.

Wenger also stated that, to play football the way United played against them, was a bigger crime than Eduardo’s diving. Such tactics can ruin the fun of the beautiful game, he believed. The good news for Wenger, was that his two key players, Nicklas Bendtnar and Denilson have successfully signed contracts with Arsenal. The details are not known but it is to be believed that the contracts will keep the two 21 year olds, at Emirates for at least another five years.

There was also sad news from the Manchester City camp, as they lost their best defender on the last day of the summer transfer window. The new summer arrivals forces 29 year old Richard Dunne, an Irish player, to leave the club for Aston Villa.

England were again the top spenders for the 2009 summer transfer window with a total spending of $715.1 million. Spain came second with $676.6 million, of which $355 million were spent by Real Madrid alone.

Barcelona started their La Liga title defense with a 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon in front of 90,000 home fans at Camp Nou. Messi was rested for the clash and coach Guardiola started with new summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovich.

The deadlock was broken in the in the 18^th minute by 19 year old Bojan and another was added by Keita in the 42^nd minute to make the score, 2-0 at half time. There was little hope of a comeback from Sporting Gijon but that too ended when the 69m signing, Zlatan Ibrahimovich scored in the 82^nd minute. Later Zlatan told reporters that he was very happy that he got his first goal for Barca on his league debut.

The last day of the transfer window also saw Eidur Gudjohnsen leaving the club for AS Monaco for an undisclosed amount. Though many pundits believe it as a step down in his career, Eidur doesn’t think so, and believes that he will get to play better football at Monaco. The contract will keep the 30 year old midfield player at Monaco for 2 years and he has been handed the No 9 jersey.

During the match against Sporting Gijon, goal scorer Bojan Krkic was injured and then later substituted by Jeffren in the 80^th minute. It was diagnosed later that Bojan has had an injury that will keep him out of the professional circuit for at least 3 weeks. This means Bojan will miss the start of the Champions league game against Inter Milan at San Siro.

Real Madrid will officially boast about French striker Karim Benzema today at the Bernabeu. The 21-year-old signed from Lyon for between 35 and 41 million euros (£30-£35m).

“The new Real striker will have the opportunity to live the unforgettable experience which his other new teammates have already gone through,” said a statement from Real.

Brazil’s Kaka was the first of the new recruits which Real has signed to be unveiled. His presentation on June 30 drew 55,000 fans.

Spanish international defender Raul Albiol was unveiled two days later before some 8,000 people while Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo drew over 75,000 people to his presentation on Monday.

Benzema, who has been compared to former French international and Real star Zinedine Zidane, was the first new player who Real president Florentino Perez signed after he returned to the helm of the club in June.

Real Madrid resume training Friday before flying to Dublin Monday for a pre-season training camp.

Four players are exempt from the stay in Ireland: the Spaniards Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Albiol and Kaka, who played the Confederations Cup in June in South Africa.

Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled as a Real Madrid player amongst 80,000 Real Madrid fans, at the Bernabeu. He had to be whisked to safety as security worried that a pitch invasion could occur. Ronaldo was given the number 9 jersey.

“I am just so happy to be here,” he said to a rapturous reception from the gathered thousands.

“For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.”

He added: “I didn’t expect a jam-packed stadium – this is truly impressive.”

Perez claimed Monday night’s events “might not have a precedent”.

“We are very satisfied to know that you made the firm decision to play for Real Madrid,” Perez said.

He told Ronaldo what to expect from his new adoring fans, adding: “They will ask of you the very best, but will also give you their all.”

Ronaldo is the third player to be unveiled by Madrid since Perez returned to the presidency at the start of June, following in the footsteps of Kaka and Raul Albiol.

Monday night’s attendance at the Bernabeu swamped the estimated 55,000 that watched Kaka’s unveiling here last Tuesday, and is believed to be the biggest turn-out for a presentation since a reported 75,000 saw the arrival of Diego Maradona at Napoli from Barcelona in 1984.

On the subject of the number he has been given, recently vacated by Javier Saviola, Ronaldo said: “I wanted seven, but nine is also a mythical number, it always makes me happy.

“The numbers do not play. I will try to do things the same way, regardless of the number on my shirt.”

He has a line of clothing under the moniker CR7, the number he wears for Portugal and formerly at Manchester United.

Earlier on Monday Ronaldo, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, successfully completed his medical with Madrid after landing in the Spanish capital just after midday.