What the back pages say: June 13

13 June 2009 08:58
DAILY MAIL: Manchester United were last night rocked by news that Barcelonahave emerged as favourites to land Franck Ribery, the France international theyhave targeted after selling Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million.  Heat on Fergie: Glazers demand new Ronaldo with Barca to grab Ribery Also: The Lions sent Wales captain Ryan Jones straight back home last night in an embarrassing U-turn within 24 hours of flying him out. LIONS LATEST: Farce as Wales captain Ryan Jones sent home from tour Rib blow: European champions Barcelona are said to be in pole position to sign Manchester United target Franck Ribery DAILY MIRROR: Manchester United are being held to ransom over their attempts tofill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 million switch to Real Madrid. Also: Samuel Eto'o has been offered to Liverpool by Barcelona in a swap deal asthe European Champions step up their bid to land Javier Mascherano. THE SUN: The Premier League's chairman faces investigation into hislinks with the proposed £60 million takeover of Portsmouth. Also: Real Madrid are set to step up their astonishing spending spree - after an £8million offer for Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa. DAILY STAR: Manchester United were last night told to splash the cashor forget their transfer targets in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's £80m move to Real Madrid. THE TIMES: A week ago, the sense was that whatever fate or theopposition could throw at him, Roger Federer would achieve the crowningglory of his career and become a greater giant of the game. In a lessgrand but no less defining context, Andy Murray is piecing together asequence of performances on grass that stir the blood almost asvigorously. Agile Andy has bigger Fish to fry as he blasts his way into Queen's semi Come in No 2: Chelsea want to appoint Italy legend Paolo Maldini as Carlo Ancelotti's right-hand man THE INDEPENDENT: Manchester United last night made the firstsignificant move to replace the outgoing Cristiano Ronaldo by making a£17.5m bid for Wigan winger Antonio Valencia. Also: The legendary former Milan left-back Paolo Maldini was in ameeting with Carlo Ancelotti the new Chelsea manager at Cobhamyesterday with a view to joining the club's coaching staff. DAILY TELEGRAPH: A breakdown in communications between the coachingteams of the British and Irish Lions and Wales was last night blamedfor Ryan Jones'sreturn to the UK less than 24 hours after arriving in South Africa as a replacement for Stephen Ferris. Also: Premier League clubs are losing out to their La Ligacounterparts in the chase for top overseas players because of Spain'smore generous tax system, an agent warned yesterday. How many others will follow Ronaldo's lead by fleeing to Spain in tax dodge? DAILY EXPRESS: Manchester United's attempts to rebuild are set to meet with amixed response and there will be no quick fix to Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 milliondeparture to Real Madrid. Also: Sepp Blatter last night performed a stunning U-turn by givingCristiano Ronaldo's £80 million move to Real Madrid a huge presidentialseal of approval. THE GUARDIAN: Manchester United have confirmed they intend to replace CristianoRonaldo with Antonio Valencia once they have completed the world-record £80mtransaction with Real Madrid.  

Source: Daily_Mail