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18 August 2013 15:40

Both Tottenham and Chelsea were interested in signing Fernandinho before he moved to Manchester City, the player has revealed.

The Brazilian midfielder joined City in June from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported £35million fee and is due to make his Premier League debut on Monday against Newcastle United.

According to the 28-year-old, both Chelsea and Tottenham were keen on securing his signature, but he was never set for a move to London.

“I know there were negotiations between Shakhtar and Chelsea. I don’t know the details of those talks because I had already started speaking with City,” he explained.

“Shakhtar made it clear that I was coming to Manchester. They told me that they had refused an offer.

“There was also a stage a year ago when I spoke to people from Tottenham but nothing came of that.”

Fernandinho is one of four close-season signings made by City manager Manuel Pellegrini along with Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic.

Despite the spending spree which has taken place at the Etihad Stadium in recent months, Fernandinho insists he did not come to the club solely for financial reasons.

“If I only wanted money and a comfortable life, I would have stayed in Ukraine,” he said.

“I was in Donetsk for eight years. I was happy there. I won six titles. I knew everyone and I was a big part of the club.

“But I was presented with the challenge of coming to Manchester City and I am aware that over the last few years this is a project which has grown a lot.

“In my country we say that football is like a huge plate of food. Well, I want to eat everything because I want to win every trophy I can for City.”

18 August 2013 15:07

Malky Mackay is still hopeful of adding to his Cardiff City squad before the end of the transfer window after the club’s opening-day defeat.

The Premier League new boys found themselves on the end of a 2-0 defeat to West Ham in their season opener on Saturday, and Mackay knows work still needs to be done to enable the team can compete in the top flight.

The Scot gave debuts to Steven Caulker and Gary Medel at Upton Park as goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan gave West Ham all three points.

Mackay has made four new signings during the close-season, but after missing out on Etienne Capoue to Tottenham, acknowledges his search for new recruits continues.

“We’re certainly trying but so is everyone in the Premier League,” he said. “We’re trying to get good players but sometimes it’s not always within your control.

“If I find a good player and everything comes together in terms of the club agreeing and the player agreeing then I’ll absolutely try to act.”

One of Cardiff’s new arrivals is Andreas Cornelius. The striker was not available for the West Ham clash as he recovers from an ankle injury, but Mackay is positive the 20-year-old will soon be back in training.

“He (Cornelius) joined in (training on Friday) but wasn’t quite match fit,” the Scot added. “He was nearly ready but he should be back training next week.”

18 August 2013 14:41

David Moyes praised the quality of Robin van Persie after the striker scored twice in Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Swansea on Saturday.

The Dutchman scored the first goal of the Moyes era in the Premier League with a perfectly executed volley, before adding the third goal of the game with an emphatic strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Danny Welbeck also scored twice in United’s victory – to eclipse his goal tally from the whole of last season – and Moyes also recognised the impact the England forward had on the game.

“I think his (Van Persie’s) foot was seven feet high in the air when he hit it (for the first goal),” Moyes told MUTV. “It was great athleticism and a good pass by Ryan (Giggs) that got us in.

“But I was nearly as pleased by the goal Danny got. I like centre-forwards to score tap-ins inside the six-yard box. If you’re ever going to get a lot of goals in the Premier League, you’re going to have to get a few of those in the season so it’s a good start for Danny.

“Obviously, he’s got the fourth too, which he earned through his hard work throughout the game.

“They tell me Danny only got one (league goal) last year so he’s got two now. It’s a start and if we can get everybody chipping in, it’s great but it’ll do Danny’s confidence a lot of good.”

Moyes’ United face a tough couple of games in the coming weeks with clashes against Chelsea and Liverpool.

18 August 2013 14:04

Wayne Rooney is targeting a first-team role with Manchester United as he begins to focus on life at Old Trafford.

The striker has been subject two transfer bids from Chelsea during the close-season, and his apparent desire to leave the Premier League champions had seen him isolated at the club.

His stance saw manager David Moyes make him train alone, but hamstring and shoulder injuries also saw him miss out on the club’s pre-season campaign.

Rooney started and played for over an hour as England beat Scotland on Wednesday, and was a second-half substitute in United’s opening-day win over Swansea City.

The 27-year-old was involved in the final two goals of Saturday’s 4-1 victory – although he was pictured not celebrating with his team-mates – and insisted he was only focused on getting back to full fitness.

“You obviously need that sharpness,” he said after the triumph at the Liberty Stadium. “I haven’t had that many training sessions with the first team (at United) because they have been away (touring Asia).

“I might be lacking that bit of sharpness but hopefully that will come. I need to try and get a few more games in.

“You always look forward to having a good pre-season. It’s important you do that. Unfortunately I got the injury to my hamstring and then to my shoulder. It’s been disappointing but you’ve got to deal with it.

“I have been working hard on the training ground trying to get myself fit and I was just thankful to get the minutes in against Scotland. That’s thanks to the manager (Roy Hodgson).”

Meanwhile, Moyes was pleased with the impact Rooney had as a substitute against Swansea and reiterated his desire to keep the player at the club.

“He came on and made a great run for the (Robin) van Persie goal and played Danny (Welbeck) in for his goal so it’s good for Wayne to get those minutes on the pitch,” the Scot told MUTV.

“He’s not ready yet physically and has not done enough in training.

“When he came on, he showed what a good player he is. Everybody wants those players in the team and we’re delighted to have Wayne playing.”