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Man City owner tops football rich list

Manchester City's new owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan is the richest man in football with Chelsea's Roman Abramovich down to third place in FourFourTwo magazine's annual Rich List published on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Sheikh, who is from Abu Dhabi and took over at City in September, is estimated to be worth 15 billion pounds.

That is more than twice as much as Russian Abramovich, 42, who slips from first to third spot on seven billion pounds.

Another new entry at number two is the Indian-born Lakshmi Mittal, worth 12.5 billion pounds. He joined Formula One's Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore by investing in Championship (second division) side Queen's Park Rangers.

England manager Fabio Capello is also a new entry. The Italian is worth 25 million pounds and is joint 73rd on the list, with a six million pounds a year contract and a 10 million pounds private art collection.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is at number 78 with 22 million pounds while Arsenal's Arsene Wenger is at 92 with 14 million.

Top 10 (worth in pounds):

1. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan (Manchester City) 15 billion

2. Lakshmi Mittal and family (QPR) 12.5 billion

3. Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) 7 billion

4. Joe Lewis (Tottenham Hotspur) 2.5 billion

5. Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone (Queen's Park Rangers) 2.4 billion

6. Stanley Kroenke (Arsenal) 2.24 billion

7. Alisher Usmanov (Arsenal) 1.5 billion

=8. Lord Grantchester and the Moores family (Everton) 1.2 billion

=8. Dermot Desmond (Celtic) 1.2 billion

=10. Lord Ashcroft (Watford) 1.1 billion

=10. Malcolm Glazer and family (Manchester United) 1.1 billion

Top 10 players (position in main list in brackets):

1. David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy) 125 million (38th)

2. Michael Owen (Newcastle United) 40 million (=56th)

3. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 35 million (61st)

=4. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) 28 million (=69th)

=4. Robbie Fowler (no club) 28 million (=69th)

=4. Sol Campbell (Portsmouth) 28 million (=69th)

7. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) 23 million (77th)

=8. Michael Ballack (Chelsea) 20 million (=80th)

=8. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 20 million (=80th)

10. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 19 million (86th)

Reuters


Zenit only talking to Arsenal

The club's general director, Maxim Mitrofanov, told Sky Sports News chief news reporter Bryan Swanson talks are continuing with the Gunners and no other club.

Mitrofanov hopes a deal can be reached within the next two weeks and Zenit will consider receiving payments in instalments.

It follows claims from Arshavin's agent that Zenit are attempting to inflate the price tag of their talented playmaker.

Dennis Lachter, who represents the gifted forward, suggested reports of an impending move to Emirates Stadium were premature.

Arshavin helped Zenit lift the Uefa Cup last season with victory over Rangers in the final and went on to impress for his country during Euro 2008.

A summer of speculation over his future ensued, with Barcelona, Tottenham and the Gunners all credited with an interest, but no move materialised.
Price

Zenit coach Dick Advocaat expects Arshavin to leave before the transfer window closes, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitting he would be prepared to sign a player even if he was ineligible for this season's UEFA Champions League.

However, Lachter told the London Evening Standard: "There is no news, no negotiations yet.

"I represent the player and I can assure you I would know if something had been discussed. It is the people of Zenit trying to initiate some kind of interest.

"They are trying to use the media to make the price of Arshavin £20million - I would not take it seriously."

Given Wenger's transfer market history, the Gunners would be highly unlikely to splash out such a figure on one player, with Zenit coy on what fee they would accept.

General director Maxim Mitrofanov said: "It's very difficult to discuss the Arshavin value.

"We want to get an adequate payment. We also need to see what player will be coming to us to replace Andrei." SkySports


Cristiano Ronaldo has no place in Lionel Messi's World XI

Lionel Messi has sparked uninhibited glee at Manchester United's training ground by naming a 2008 Team of the Year which features Wayne Rooney but no Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rio Ferdinand also gets into Messi's XI, while Alex Ferguson coaches the side. But Ronaldo – who pipped Messi to the game's big individual prizes last season – is nowhere to be seen.

Messi on Rooney: "I love this type of player. He has a great shot, good control of the ball, uses his body well in the area. He is a great goalscorer."

Messi on Rio: "He is very good in the air and very strong on his feet. He is very difficult to get past."

Messi on Ronaldo*: "He's diving, preening, mummy's boy who goes missing in big games and is slowed down by the weight of his own ego. All real football fans detest this loathsome brat and the sooner he becomes an expensive prima donna at Real Madrid the better."

Messi's team of 2008. Petr Cech (Chelsea), Maicon (Inter), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Javier Zanetti (Inter), Xavi (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United). Telegraph